Ruling Party: "Eased Holiday Shopping Burden"... Opposition: "Ordinary Citizens' Livelihoods at the Edge"

Democratic Party: "Ancestral Table Costs Down 2.3% from Last Year"
People Power Party: "High Inflation and Economic Downturn Worsen Livelihoods"
Both Ruling and Opposition Parties Emphasize Livelihoods Ahead of Chuseok

The ruling and opposition parties both emphasized livelihoods on September 25 in celebration of Chuseok, the nation's biggest holiday. However, the Democratic Party of Korea assessed that the government's measures to control prices have eased the burden of holiday shopping, while the People Power Party criticized that high inflation and economic downturn have made life more difficult for ordinary citizens.

Shin Hyun-young, spokesperson for the Democratic Party, stated in a commentary that day, "For this year's Chuseok, the burden of preparing the ancestral ceremony table for citizens has dropped by 2.3% compared to last year," adding, "We will work to reduce shopping costs and strengthen our responsibility for the people's livelihoods."

Travelers heading to the departure hall are seen at Incheon International Airport Terminal 2 on the 23rd, a day before the biggest ethnic holiday, Chuseok. Photo by Jinhyung Kang

Spokesperson Shin highlighted the government's provision of 193 billion won in subsidies for discounts on agricultural, livestock, and marine products for Chuseok, and its move to increase the supply of major holiday goods to 1.6 times the usual level.

She said, "Efforts have focused on expanding support so that people can truly feel the benefits in their daily lives, aiming to lower the cost burden for the holiday by increasing both supply and discounts."

She also cited support measures for traditional market consumption, such as the Onnuri gift certificate reimbursement event, saying, "We will ensure that the results are felt in citizens' daily lives and will take more responsible steps to address and improve any shortcomings."

The People Power Party, in contrast, drew attention to the hardships faced by ordinary people due to high inflation and economic stagnation, directing its criticism at the government and the ruling party.

Park Chung-kwon, chief spokesperson of the People Power Party, said in his commentary, "Chuseok, the greatest holiday for our people, has arrived, but citizens are meeting the ancestral table with heavier hearts than ever. Endless inflation and recession have driven household finances to the edge of a cliff, and sighs from local small businesses are growing deeper by the day."

He continued, "In the face of the suffering of people struggling even to fill a single shopping basket, the Yoon Suk-yeol administration and the ruling party, entrusted with national governance, persist in arrogance and dogmatism and are driving people's lives into an even tighter corner."

He went on to say, "We will resolutely keep the Yoon Suk-yeol administration's unilateral and violent governance in check and dedicate all our party's capabilities to correcting irrational state management. We will be the strongest support for citizens by introducing practical policies to overcome the current livelihood crisis."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.