Gong Ji-young: "Korea Already Benefits from Tens of Thousands of Dollars... No Universal Welfare Can Compare"

Posted on Facebook: Recommendation to use "Emergency Living Stabilization Fund" instead of "Disaster Basic Income"
"COVID-19 patients in Korea hospitalized for 19 days... Out-of-pocket cost is 44,000 won out of 9.7 million won"

Novelist Gong Ji-young / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Ga-yeon] Novelist Gong Ji-young raised her voice regarding the political calls for the introduction of disaster basic income to respond to the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), saying, "Politicians, how many times do I have to tell you that the state is not that concept?"

On the 19th, Gong posted on her Facebook account, "Please stop using the term disaster basic income."

She stated, "It is not a situation where everyone suffers damage, but there are citizens who suffer economic damage depending on the characteristics of the infectious disease, so 'emergency living stabilization funds' is the correct term," adding, "You should not use the term basic income carelessly. It does not fit the situation, and no country has ever succeeded."

She continued, "Do you want something like the U.S. saying, 'We can't handle quarantine, testing, and treatment. We'll give you one million won each, so manage on your own'? Or do you want everything? Then you must also accept a tax bomb."

Gong claimed, "Currently, the cost for 19 days of hospitalization and treatment for confirmed cases in Korea is 9.7 million won, but the out-of-pocket expense is 44,000 won," and added, "Compared to the taxes paid, any universal welfare offered is basically fully covered."

She emphasized, "Trump is printing 1,500 trillion won and giving out $1,000 each, saying 'What is Korea doing?' but Korea is already providing benefits worth several thousand to tens of thousands of dollars."

Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung is holding a press conference on the afternoon of the 18th at the briefing room of Gyeonggi Provincial Government in Suwon-si, Gyeonggi-do, announcing the administrative order to restrict close use of multi-use facilities to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19).
Photo by Yonhap News

Meanwhile, disaster basic income refers to money given as living expenses to citizens experiencing difficulties during disaster situations.

On the same day, Lee Jae-myung, Governor of Gyeonggi Province, posted on his Facebook titled "Supporting the President... Please make nationwide disaster basic income a reality," requesting the payment of disaster basic income to all citizens.

Lee said, "I hope you overcome this economic crisis with bold disaster basic income for all citizens, beyond what everyone imagines," adding, "Economic bureaucrats and traditional economic experts, who have lived in an era lacking investment opportunities and money to invest, will find it difficult to move away from the argument of selective support."

He continued, "This disaster basic income must be paid equally to all citizens (not selectively)," citing reasons such as ▲ disaster basic income being a core economic policy for overcoming disasters rather than a welfare policy ▲ the majority of citizens, excluding the top 10% wealthy, are experiencing the crisis ▲ it is a double discrimination that deprives benefits from those who pay more taxes.

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