ID :
190839
Fri, 06/24/2011 - 11:25
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/190839
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FKI head may boycott parliamentary hearing
SEOUL, June 24 (Yonhap) -- The head of South Korea's top business lobby will likely boycott a public hearing organized by political parties that is expected to focus on his recent criticism of them, an official with the lobby said Friday.
The ruling and opposition parties earlier said they would ask Huh Chang-soo, chairman of the Federation of Korean Industries (FKI), to attend the June 29 hearing and explain his earlier remarks that labeled several ruling and opposition party platforms, including the repealing of planned tax reductions, as "populist policies."
"An official request (for Huh's attendance) came from the National Assembly on June 23. As of now, the possibility of an expert from the organization taking part in the hearing is greater than the possibility of Chairman Huh personally taking part," an FKI official said Friday.
The hint at Huh's absence at the upcoming hearing was quickly met by a threat from the political parties, which said they will push up the level of the scheduled hearing into a parliamentary hearing where Huh's attendance will be required by law.
FKI officials earlier claimed the move to require Huh's presence at the public hearing was an attempt to publicly disgrace the 63-year-old businessman.
Huh, however, apparently continued his attack against the political parties Friday, saying he is not sure whether they are truly working for the country and its people.
"Our competitor nations are carefully applying their commercial laws and fair trade acts in line with market principles rather than temporary social trends," he said in a meeting with the country's new finance minister, Bahk Jae-wan.
"I wonder if the pure and clear duty of working for the future of the country is being obeyed in important decision-making processes these days."
Bahk said the government will continue to work with private companies to develop the country's economy.
"I believe the government's most important role is to get rid of (unnecessary) regulations so that private companies can freely do business in any part of the world and to create a business-friendly environment," he said at the meeting in Seoul, also attended by the heads of four other major economic organizations, including the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industries.
Huh, also the chairman of energy and construction giant GS Group, said the country's conglomerates will invest up to 120 trillion won (US$111 billion) this year alone and support the government's efforts to help develop smaller companies.
As the country's largest business lobby with membership that includes more than 600 of the country's largest businesses, the FKI often acts as a strong opinion leader.
bdk@yna.co.kr
The ruling and opposition parties earlier said they would ask Huh Chang-soo, chairman of the Federation of Korean Industries (FKI), to attend the June 29 hearing and explain his earlier remarks that labeled several ruling and opposition party platforms, including the repealing of planned tax reductions, as "populist policies."
"An official request (for Huh's attendance) came from the National Assembly on June 23. As of now, the possibility of an expert from the organization taking part in the hearing is greater than the possibility of Chairman Huh personally taking part," an FKI official said Friday.
The hint at Huh's absence at the upcoming hearing was quickly met by a threat from the political parties, which said they will push up the level of the scheduled hearing into a parliamentary hearing where Huh's attendance will be required by law.
FKI officials earlier claimed the move to require Huh's presence at the public hearing was an attempt to publicly disgrace the 63-year-old businessman.
Huh, however, apparently continued his attack against the political parties Friday, saying he is not sure whether they are truly working for the country and its people.
"Our competitor nations are carefully applying their commercial laws and fair trade acts in line with market principles rather than temporary social trends," he said in a meeting with the country's new finance minister, Bahk Jae-wan.
"I wonder if the pure and clear duty of working for the future of the country is being obeyed in important decision-making processes these days."
Bahk said the government will continue to work with private companies to develop the country's economy.
"I believe the government's most important role is to get rid of (unnecessary) regulations so that private companies can freely do business in any part of the world and to create a business-friendly environment," he said at the meeting in Seoul, also attended by the heads of four other major economic organizations, including the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industries.
Huh, also the chairman of energy and construction giant GS Group, said the country's conglomerates will invest up to 120 trillion won (US$111 billion) this year alone and support the government's efforts to help develop smaller companies.
As the country's largest business lobby with membership that includes more than 600 of the country's largest businesses, the FKI often acts as a strong opinion leader.
bdk@yna.co.kr
