Opposition leaders criticize Lee administration's marriage penalty plan

Opposition leaders from the People Power Party have criticized President Lee Jae-myung's plan to address 22 "marriage penalties" that allegedly discourage young people from marrying. Representatives Jang Dong-hyeok and Na Kyung-won argued that the current administration's own policies are the primary cause of the difficulties facing young citizens.

Specifically, the lawmakers pointed to tightened real estate and loan regulations, including reductions in the limits for Didimdol and Beotimmok loans, as well as restrictions on special loans for newborn infants. They characterized the government's attempt to reform these policies as an attempt to fix problems that the administration itself created due to declining approval ratings among the youth.

Jang Dong-hyeok emphasized that true solutions require structural reforms in the labor, financial, and real estate markets rather than mere subsidies, while Na Kyung-won warned that the administration's policy shifts are regressive and fail to address the nation's severe low birth rate crisis.