The main opposition party said Sunday that it will start a nationwide signature drive this week in an effort to thwart a government plan to raise taxes on the middle class.

In meeting with reporters, Democratic Party chairman Kim Han-gil said the campaign will kick off on Monday to foil the latest tax reform that calls for collecting more from ordinary, middle income earners, which cannot be tolerated.

"There is a definite need to stop the government plan to change the tax code that strives to push ordinary people over the precipice," he said. "The right path to take when collecting taxes is to get the country's wealth that is currently monopolized by the large conglomerates and super-rich, to contribute to the society as a whole."

The lawmaker said that the DP will hold talks with various civic and industry groups so as to gain wider public support.

Organizations representing restaurant owners and farmers have already expressed reservations about the proposed tax code changes announced by Seoul last Thursday.

Under the revised tax bill, more than 4 million salaried workers will see their tax burden increase in 2013 as the government pushes to broaden its tax revenue base to meet growing fiscal demand. The increase will mostly come in the form of sharp cuts in tax deductions given to salaried workers.

The incumbent Park Geun-hye administration said it needs an extra 135 trillion won ($121.4 billion) in the next five years to meet growing welfare outlays.

The DP chairman added that the signature drive will be carried out in concert with ongoing efforts to win public support for sweeping changes to the country's spy agency that has been accused of meddling in last year's presidential race.

The lawmaker, meanwhile, said that despite calls for restraint by the ruling Saenuri Party, which called on the DP to end its public protest and return to the negotiating table, the opposition is only beginning its campaign.

This is a strong indication that it will continue to exert pressure on the ruling camp by galvanizing public support outside the National Assembly.

Such a move can put pressure on the Saenuri Party and President Park and compel them to make concessions.

Related to the signature drive, officials at Saenuri said earlier in the day that they are looking at the government's tax reform plan in order to address complaints by the middle class.

"Emphasis will be placed on reducing the tax burden for people who make 34.5 million won to 70 million won per year that on average will be obliged to pay 160,000 won more in taxes annually," an insider said.

The source, who did not wish to be identified, said nothing has been decided, but adjustments can be made to the earnings deduction rate for middle income earners so they will not be forced to pay more taxes.

Other measures being discussed include retaining tax deductions given to wage earners for payments made using credit cards that would have been scrapped under the government's plan, he added. (Yonhap News)