The Reform Party's election campaign committee revealed Lee Jun-seok's policy pledges online on the 26th, rather than in a booklet. The aim is to build an online platform to enhance accessibility and maintain the principle of a 'cost-free election.'
According to the Reform Party, the pledges made public this time were categorized by area based on the content announced by Lee and the campaign committee. Additional pledges are also planned to be announced in the future.
Candidate Lee said he would merge the current 19 ministries into 13 as part of the 'national great reform’ pledge. He plans to consolidate the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, the Ministry of Unification, and the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials and to reorganize ministries based on function.
He also stated that a system of three deputy prime ministers for security, strategy, and economy would be implemented, and the planning and budgeting functions of the Ministry of Economy and Finance would be separated and transferred under the Prime Minister.
He said that the National Security Office under the President would be abolished, with related functions transferred to the newly established deputy prime minister for security. He promised to enshrine in the constitution a clause that allows the capital functions to be decentralized, pledging to move the presidential office and the National Assembly to Sejong City.
A 'closed hearing system' will also be pursued to verify the job competency of senior executives from government agencies and public institutions who are not subject to personnel hearings.
With the goal of establishing 'an efficient and effective small government,' a Government Efficiency Committee directly under the President will be established to maximize work efficiency. Plans are also in place to restructure the organizational structures and performance systems of civil servants and public institutions.
In terms of local autonomy, the authority of local governments over corporate tax will be expanded to allow municipalities to compete for attracting corporations. Local governments will also be granted the authority to adjust the minimum wage level for workers within a range of 30%.
As a president with a background in science and technology, he will also promote deregulation and comprehensive support in the science and industrial sectors. A national science hero system will be introduced to provide pensions to successful science and technology researchers, and a 'regulatory benchmark country system' will be implemented to adjust regulations to similar levels by designating a country leading in specific fields.
In addition, a regulatory adjudication office will be newly established under the Prime Minister. This aims to process applications related to regulations and grant special exceptions in a 'one-stop' manner.
Regarding the industrial sector, corporations with factories overseas will see a significant reduction in regulations when they return and settle domestically. The pledge also includes creating a 'sustainable Republic of Korea' that can coexist with future generations.
He presented a plan to reform pensions by separating the pension finances into new and old pension accounts and introducing a new defined contribution structure, allowing individuals to receive back what they contribute.
To address the low birth rate issue, a pink license plate will be introduced for families with three or more children, and a 'temporary pause loan system' will be proposed, allowing a two-year deferment of principal repayment for each minor child.
In the education sector, he pledged to mandate a nationwide mathematics achievement assessment and to conduct small group classes based on levels according to the results, introducing a national responsibility system for math education to ensure proper education within the public education system.
Additionally, to protect teachers' rights, a national responsibility system for teacher lawsuits will be introduced, and student life support officers will be dispatched to connect guidance and counseling for students with behavioral issues.
In medical reform, existing essential medical packages will be completely abolished, and new reform plans will be reexamined from scratch. He also promised to normalize and make realistic key medical fees.
In real estate policy, taxes on dwellings will be reduced according to life cycles, and he promised to revive private rental registration systems only for unsold apartments in local areas.
He unveiled a pledge to establish the 'Start Funding' program, providing loans to young people at a fixed interest rate of 1.7% for up to 5 million won per quarter, with a maximum limit of 50 million won, and to provide an annual transportation allowance of 120,000 won to seniors aged 65 and older across the country.