Rep. Oh, Best Performer in
Parliamentary Audit of Gov't

Puts 'politics for people'as top priority

Rep. Oh Jae-sae has been picked as one of the prominent lawmakers who have a good performance record during the parliamentary audit of the government under the current National Assembly Plenary Session.
Rep. Oh, of the ruling Uri Party, sitting on the National Policy Committee, became the pick of prominent lawmakers by the Weekly Hankook and the daily Chungbuk Ilbo, based on NGO monitoring groups'assessment and parliamentary expert advisers'survey and netizens'poll.
The first-time lawmaker said, "One of the achievements I have made as a member of the National Assembly Policy Committee is the revision of the law on invigorating conventional markets. The amendment bill calls for, among others, providing financial support for modernizing facilities and information equipment to protect merchants of small-sized conventional markets facing difficulties, caused by the entry of large-scale discount stores.
"During the parliamentary interpellation, I demanded the government? fact-finding investigation into window-dressing cases through the issuance of CDs worth 2 trillion won under the name of third party people and the severe punishment of those responsible for the fraudulent book accounting." "I also asked the authorities to take steps designed to prevent the recurrence of such fraudulent book accounting,"Rep. Oh said during a written interview with NewsWorld.
The National Assembly Policy Committee on which Rep. Oh is sitting has also handled such issues as abolition of putting credit delinquents to a roll of registration, fair trade with subcontractors, protection of consumers, an overhaul of financial regulatory authorities, low birth rate and ageing population, apartment and real estate speculation, a delay of the second-stage of bancassurance, provision of public funds to savings banks and tax breaks to wholesale, retailing businesses, eatery and accommodation establishments.
Oh has been credited with revealing the loopholes of the issuance of certificates of deposit (CD) under the name of third-party people.
During the parliamentary interpellation, Rep. Oh demanded the government? fact-finding investigation into window-dressing cases through the issuance of CDs under the name of third party people. In return, the governor of the Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) promised to work out mid- and long-term measures designed to prevent the recurrence of such fraudulent accounting manipulation.
The government has also decided to implement a suggestion by Rep. Oh that an assessment of state affairs be made before the public through KTV, a state-run cable network established to publicize state policies.
A graduate of Seoul National University Law College, Rep. Oh has assumed such ranking positions as administrative Incheon vice mayor and Cheongju vice mayor. The following are the excerpts of the interview.
Question: What would you say about your activities concerning your constituent district?
Answer: I have been putting more energy into working out steps designed to invigorate Cheongju Airport, which will serve as a driving force behind the dramatic development of Cheongju. Such efforts have led to the launch of low price carriers. I have urged the government to secure flight routes between Cheongju and cities in Asian countries, including China and Japan and to extend the electrified line of the Seoul metropolitan area from Cheonan to Cheongju Airport. I have also asked the government for advancing the dedication date of the planned Osong KTX station to 2007.
In particular, I have played a part in earmarking 500 billion won in government funds necessary for implementing projects of the Cheongju area. To name a few major projects, there is one aimed at building an alternative road between Pukil and Namil at a cost of 370 billion won, the 20 billion-won Seowon University Regional Innovation Center project and the 10 billion-won senile dementia hospital construction project.
Q: Would you give the details of your activities concerning the projected amendments to the laws on structural overhaul of SMEs and invigorating conventional markets?
A: The revision bill for invigorating conventional markets, calls for, among others, easing construction restrictions on more than 3,000 sq. meters in floor space in a bid to speed up redevelopment of conventional markets, reconstruction projects and environment improvement projects in conventional markets. It would also stipulates a reduction of road usage charges of market facilities,
a measure designed to modernize market facilities as well as widening the beneficiaries of subsidies on invigorating conventional markets to such sectors as facility modernization, management modernization and information. A consultative meeting between the Uri Party and the government was held on October 25 in which I participated as vice chairman of the Uri Party 3rd Policy Coordination Committee.
Q: Would you tell our readers about your parliamentary activities as vice chairman of the Uri Party 3rd Policy Coordination Committee?
A: I have played a role in determining the direction of such major issues, including macroeconomic policies, financing, taxes, budget and fair trade.
The Uri Party 3rd Policy Coordination Committee held consultative meetings with government agencies, including the Ministry of Finance and Economy and the Financial Supervisory Commission and the Fair Trade Commission, to discuss and decide government policies.
The committee has determined policies with the government through consultations on such major tasks as the 2006 economic management plan, the second energy tax renovation plan and on August 31 measures designed to fight real estate speculation.
It seeks to revise laws on the restructuring of the financial industry to ensure corporate governance and make amendments to real estate-related laws to preempt real estate speculation.
Q: Would you explain your activities as a member of the National Assembly Policy Committee?
A: I have been selected as one of the prominent lawmakers who have a good performance record during the parliamentary audit of the government under the current National Assembly Plenary Session. I became the pick of prominent lawmakers by the Weekly Hankook and the daily Chungbuk Ilbo, based on NGO monitoring groups'assessment and parliamentary expert advisers'survey and netizens'poll.
One of the achievements I have made as a member of the National Assembly Policy Committee is the revision of the law on invigorating conventional markets. The amendment bill calls for, among others, providing financial support for modernizing facilities and information equipment to protect merchants of small-sized conventional markets facing difficulties, caused by the entry of large-scale discount stores.
During the parliamentary interpellation, I demanded the government's fact-finding investigation into window-dressing cases through the issuance of CDs worth 2 trillion won under the name of third party people and the severe punishment of those responsible for the fraudulent book accounting. I also asked the authorities concerned to take steps designed to prevent the recurrence of such fraudulent accounting.
The National Assembly Policy Committee has also handled such issues as abolition of putting credit delinquents to a roll of registration, fair trade with subcontractors, protection of consumers, an overhaul of financial regulatory authorities, low birth rate and ageing population, apartment and real estate speculation, a delay of the second-stage of bancassurance, provision of public funds to savings banks and tax breaks to wholesale, retailing businesses, eateries and accommodation establishments.
Q: Would you elaborate on your cause and political philosophy regarding clean politics?
A: A state cannot exist without people, so don't politicians do without people. Recognizing that they exist amid public support and wishes, I believe that politicians should make politics for people. People are craving for political change.
People are expecting politics to bring them trust and hope, and they want politics for the people and that feels comfortable. Politicians should exert themselves to give hope and trust to people and take responsibility.
The first virtue of politics is to make people live an affluent and comfortable life. The better the economy develops, the stronger a nation can stand.
I? trying to do my best to treat others kindly, while keeping my calm and disciplined presence of mind. nw

Rep. Oh Jae-sae of the Uri Party

Rep. Oh Jae-sae is one of the most active lawmakers who have a good performance record in the recent government audit. (Clockwise) He is on duty at nighttime at the Uri Party headquarters, in a meeting with reporters and his appearance on a local TV program.