The following are excerpts of a written interview between NewsWorld and Rep. Sim Hag-bong, of the Saenuri Party’s Gumi-gap, who serves as a member of the National Assembly Trade, Industry and Energy Committee, in which he spoke of his legislative activities and political philosophy and convictions.   

Question: Will you introduce our readers to parliamentary activities in which you have been engaged since your election as a member of the 19th National Assembly?

Answer: I believe I’ve been elected due to Gumi citizens’ expectation I could change the sagging Gumi. Upon my election as a member of the 19th National Assembly, I project the future of Gumi as a knowledge-based city combining education, culture, and tourism from the big-picture perspective of the “Gumi Renaissance Project.” 

First, in March, I proposed a measure on transforming dilapidated industrial complexes into advanced ones, which would fund the transformation of decrepit industrial estates such as the 1st Gumi Industrial Complex and lay the legal foundation for supporting local governments. 

I submitted the bill since industrial complexes are closely related to the Park Geun-hye government’s policy of building the “creative economy” and President Park stressed the need for transforming industrial estates into innovative and creative spaces. I don’t think the measure will be limited only to my constituency, Gumi, but it will cover all industrial complexes across the nation, which played a pivotal role in the economic development of the nation in the 1960s and 1970s and could be reinvented. I’m going to spearhead efforts to have the measure approved by the parliament as soon as possible.

I’ve played a role in drafting steps to protect traditional markets, self-employed business, and SMEs from the stage of planning for a book of public pledges for the campaign of the last presidential candidate of the Saenuri Party. While serving as a member of a local development committee in charge of working out public pledges for the Daegu and Gyeongsangbuk-do region, I did my best in exploring new growth engines in the region, which has led to making an IT convergence-based new industrial belt project the prime public pledge for the Gyeongsangbuk-do area. 

I’m also serving as a member of the ruling Saenuri Party’s special committee designed to remove or ease regulations standing in the way of self-employed businessmen and SMEs’ business activities. Members of the committee and I are trying to ensure institutional reform by lending an ear to the voices and grievances of businesspeople and SME owners.

Q: Will you elaborate on your stint as a member of the National Assembly Trade, Industry and Energy Committee?

A: I’ve been focusing on proposing profound policy options as an expert of IT and other industries by capitalizing on the knowhow I’ve accumulated during my 20-odd year career as a public official, rather than resorting to criticisms. In particular, I’ve been engaged in addressing issues related to my constituency such as the transformation of old industrial complexes and the grievances and complaints that self-employed businesspeople and SME badly want to solve. 

I took the lead in proposing a measure on the special act on restructuring old industrial complexes into advanced, high-tech ones, an amendment bill of the Act on the Facilitation of Industrial Integration and Factory Establishment, and a revision bill of the Act on the Nationalization of Energy Use. The two revision bills were put into force after they received approval from the National Assembly. 

The implementation of the Act on the Facilitation of Industrial Integration and Factory Establishment is expected to give a much-needed shot in the arm for the economies in non-metropolitan regions. 

The enforcement of the Act on the Nationalization of Energy Use, designed to raise the efficiency of energy-related equipment and components and enforce their management and impose realistic regulation tools, is likely to not only enhance the general public’s conveniences, but also enable the efficient management of energy loopholes. 

I, a member of the legislative branch of state representing the people, strive to devote myself to legislating laws conducive to state administration and public lives rather than conducting legislative activities for appearance’s sake.

Q: What’s your own evaluation of your legislative activities in the interests of the Gumi-gap constituents?

A: I’ve been in consultative talks with officials with the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and the Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning, the Gyeongsanbuk-do provincial government, and the Gumi municipal government to discuss issues of funding projects related to the projected transformation of the 1st Gumi Industrial Complex and the establishment of IT convergence and a new industrial belt in the Gyeongbuk area.

My top priority is on fixing the Gumi Station Complex, an illegal structure, which has remained the thorniest issue for 13 years. For the past year I’ve made numerous meetings with the first vice minister of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the president of Korea Railroad Corp., and other parties of interest to arbitrate the issue and to discuss my proposal of a two-track approach to divide the station structure and the underground parking space at the back side. I’m very pleased as the representative of the constituents with the issue being closer to a stage of settlement as the construction of the plaza and the underground parking space has resumed. 

Rep. Kim Tae-hwan and I are working together to induce corporate investments as part of efforts to invigorate the Gumi National Industrial Complex. LG Display’s promise to invest 800 billion won into its factory in Gumi for the second straight year this year is considered a good omen for the resurgence of the regional economy of Gumi. I will do my utmost to make Gumi the most business-friendly city in the nation.

Q: Please comment on your political philosophy and conviction.

A: I came from a destitute family with no parents and not enough food, but fortunately I was given the opportunity to enter the state-run Gumi Electrics High School, founded by the late President Park Chung-hee and continued to study without worrying about tuition and living costs. I’ve thought about how I can contribute to the state ever since I was also given the privilege of becoming a public servant 20 years ago. 

I ran for the office of representative because I have devoted myself to the development of Gumi life by capitalizing on the wisdom and experiences from my career as a public official. I will not shy away from a challenge and strive to put all my energies into making the most of my experience and knowhow as an IT and industry expert in service to my native town of Gumi. 

I carry in my name card the three phrases that sum up my political philosophy and conviction – great politics, life-oriented politics, and moving politics – to give an insight into the future of the ROK together with people, to lend an ear to people’s voices, and to humble myself in order to take care of the unseen things.