"Giving 1.5 Million Won Per Citizen" Controversy Over Heo Kyung-young's Dividend Party

National Revolutionary Dividend Party, National Dividend Pledge and 1,000 Preliminary Candidates for General Election
Controversies Over Preliminary Candidates' Criminal Records and Self-Proclaimed Shin-in
Despite COVID-19 Concerns, Indoor Lectures Proceeded

CEO Heo's Dividend Party, founded in August last year, has pledged to provide a national dividend of 1.5 million KRW per month to all citizens aged 20 and over. / Photo by Asia Economy DB

[Asia Economy reporters Seunggon Han and intern reporter Juhyung Lim] Controversy is erupting over the National Revolutionary Dividend Party, which has pledged to pay citizens a monthly dividend of 1.5 million won.

Among the preliminary candidates for the general election, there are individuals with criminal records including murder and child sex offenses, and despite concerns over the novel coronavirus infection, indoor lectures are being held as planned.

Earlier, Party Leader Heo Kyung-young held a founding convention on August 15 last year and established the Dividend Party. Since then, Leader Heo announced the so-called '33 policies,' which include △ paying a 'national dividend' of 1.5 million won monthly to all citizens aged 20 and over △ reducing the number of National Assembly members to 100 △ providing 300 million won in unsecured, non-guaranteed, interest-free loans for startups by employees with over five years of service, and began full-scale party promotion activities.

Leader Heo personally contacted citizens via his mobile phone to encourage voting in the April 15 general election, which became a topic of discussion among some netizens.

As of the 3rd, the Dividend Party surpassed 1,000 registered preliminary candidates with the Central Election Management Committee, attracting attention from some citizens. At that time, the Dividend Party described this phenomenon as the 'Heo Kyung-young syndrome,' claiming it reflected the "great expectations (of the people) for Heo Kyung-young."

Huh Kyung-young, Leader of the National Revolutionary Dividend Party / Photo by Yonhap News

However, some criticize that the Dividend Party's actions do not appear to be those of a normal political party. The number of preliminary candidates with criminal records, including murder, exceeds 200, and Leader Heo is said to be acting more like a religious leader than a party leader.

According to the 'JoongAng Ilbo,' among the approximately 1,000 preliminary candidates of the Dividend Party, about 220 have criminal records. Among them, some candidates have been sentenced to prison for heinous crimes such as murder and child sex offenses, sparking controversy.

MBC News Capture

In particular, Leader Heo has claimed through YouTube lectures that he is a 'divine being' descended from heaven, and reportedly persuaded those registered as preliminary candidates under the Dividend Party to receive a large number of points called 'Baekgung,' a kind of heaven. This has led to criticism that the party is effectively a religious organization disguised as a political party.

CEO Heo held an indoor lecture for supporters on the 15th. / Photo by Yonhap News

The Dividend Party also sparked controversy by holding an indoor lecture on the 15th, where hundreds gathered, despite social distancing measures due to concerns over local COVID-19 infections.

Leader Heo has been holding indoor lectures every Sunday attended by 500 to 1,000 supporters. When Yangju City in Gyeonggi Province, where the events were usually held, banned the lectures based on the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act, the location was changed to Jongno-gu, Seoul.

The Jongno District Office also recommended that Leader Heo's side stop the lectures, but they responded, "There is no legal basis to forcibly disperse indoor lectures, and we cannot prevent supporters from all over the country from voluntarily coming."

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