Sim Jae-cheol: "Democratic Party's '6 Trillion Increase' Claim Is Election Cash Handout Using Crisis as Excuse"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Won Dara] Sim Jae-cheol, floor leader of the United Future Party, criticized the Democratic Party of Korea's demand for an increase in the supplementary budget bill (추경안), calling it a "reckless policy of helicopter money distribution."

On the afternoon of the 15th, Sim held a press conference at the National Assembly and said, "The possibility of expanding the supplementary budget and promoting disaster income has increased," adding, "Their intention to use the unprecedented crisis as an excuse to distribute cash is clearly revealed."

He criticized, "Everything must have priorities, and even if the supplementary budget is passed, it should be allocated effectively after reviewing where and how much to spend. The Democratic Party's claim of a 6 trillion won increase is nothing but a political number game without specifics or grounds."

Sim said, "What is urgent now is not cash distribution for the general election but supporting vulnerable groups and self-employed people to sustain their livelihoods," adding, "The supplementary budget should be spent only where necessary and as much as needed. It should solve immediate needs such as masks and childcare issues." He emphasized, "It should not be a reckless policy of helicopter money distribution."

However, regarding President Moon Jae-in's declaration of Daegu and Gyeongbuk as special disaster areas due to the COVID-19 outbreak on the same day, he said, "It is late but welcome." He added, "Our party has been advocating for the designation of Daegu and Gyeongbuk as special disaster areas since early this month," and said, "The economy must be revived. Trying to revive it after death is futile."

When asked whether the supplementary budget bill could be processed within the deadline (the 17th), he said, "It should be possible to meet the deadline." He added, "What to cut and what to add will be discussed concretely in the Budget and Accounts Committee."

Regarding the Democratic Party's candidate nomination situation, he criticized, "The person involved in the Ulsan incident was consecutively nominated." Sim said, "Hwang Un-ha, former head of the Daejeon Metropolitan Police Agency, who pushed forward investigations into allegations of corruption involving Kim Ki-hyun's close associates and was indicted for violating the Public Official Election Act, was nominated," adding, "Im Dong-ho, former Supreme Council member, was also nominated. The fact that those who shook the foundation of democracy were nominated can only be explained by the power of 'Moonppa' (pro-Moon Jae-in supporters)."

He also continued to raise suspicions about 'Geo Young.' Sim said, "They nominated Park Myung-sook, former advisor of Geo Young who was involved in preferential treatment controversies by handling 70% of public mask distribution, as a proportional representative," pointing out, "It appears to be a collusion of power and money."

Regarding the school reopening delay, he said, "Schools are in a situation where they cannot even provide masks to children," and added, "I hope they consider further delays." When asked about Kim Jong-in, former Democratic Party leader, being mentioned as the election committee chairman of the United Future Party, he refrained from commenting, saying, "That is a matter for Representative Hwang Kyo-ahn to decide."

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