Lee Hae-chan "Foreign countries invest heavily in finances... Korea also urgently needs special measures"

Lee Hae-chan, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is delivering opening remarks at the COVID-19 National Crisis Overcoming Committee meeting held at the National Assembly on the 20th. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy reporters Wondara and Jeon Jinyoung] Lee Hae-chan, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, stated that countries such as the United States are injecting significant fiscal resources to stimulate demand in response to the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), and emphasized that Korea also needs extraordinary measures. This is interpreted as a reaffirmation of the necessity of disaster basic income and the second supplementary budget, which have been discussed within the Democratic Party.

On the morning of the 20th, at a joint meeting of the COVID-19 National Crisis Overcoming Committee and the Election Countermeasures Committee held at the National Assembly, Lee said, "The 50 trillion won emergency financial measures for small business owners and SMEs announced yesterday are appropriate," but added, "However, urgent and extraordinary measures to support the livelihoods of ordinary citizens and stimulate demand must also be prepared promptly."

He continued, "Other countries are investing a tremendous amount of fiscal resources to establish measures to stimulate demand," and stressed, "In an urgent national disaster situation, there is no time to hesitate over means and methods. The Democratic Party will earn the trust of the people with a resolute attitude and full-scale response."

Regarding the death of a 17-year-old teenager in Daegu who showed COVID-19 symptoms, he said, "A 17-year-old severe pneumonia patient passed away without receiving treatment," and added, "Many general patients are unable to receive normal medical services due to the excessive burden on the medical community." He also said, "These individuals are also victims of another COVID-19 crisis," and stated, "The party and government will review the current medical system and find measures to ensure that such patients receive urgent treatment."

He also pledged victory in the general election. Lee said, "Our party's primary elections will be almost completed this week, and the nomination process will be finished," adding, "We will ensure a successful conclusion." He further stated, "In this general election, we must achieve a landslide victory to stabilize the Moon Jae-in administration, establish a foundation for re-election, and accomplish various reform policies we pursue," and said, "We will approach the election with a very humble attitude toward the people."

Lee In-young, floor leader of the Democratic Party attending the meeting, said, "We will definitely succeed in extraordinary livelihood financial measures," and added, "People in crisis are anxiously waiting for fund disbursement. We will focus on delivering money quickly and without barriers to small business owners and self-employed individuals." He continued, "Yesterday, President Moon Jae-in held the first emergency economic meeting and transitioned the government to an emergency economic system," and said, "The government and party will urgently switch to an emergency economic system with an attitude surpassing the global financial crisis."

Lee Nak-yeon, chairman of the COVID-19 Disaster Overcoming Committee, said, "Yesterday, we requested an emergency local supplementary budget from the Ministry of the Interior and Safety," and added, "We hope local governments will cooperate to ensure that the supplementary budget passed by the National Assembly is effective." He also urged, "Together with Democratic Party-affiliated local government heads, please decide on emergency local supplementary budgets and spread them nationwide," and requested, "We ask local governments to cooperate so that small business owners and SMEs can be supported promptly."

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