78% of Gyeonggi Residents Support Introduction of Disaster Basic Income

[Asia Economy (Suwon) = Reporter Lee Young-gyu] 78% of Gyeonggi Province residents believe that the introduction of 'disaster basic income' is necessary, and 73% think it is preferable to provide it through local currency.

The province conducted an emergency public opinion survey on 'disaster basic income' in response to the spread of COVID-19 over two days from the 16th to the 17th, targeting 1,000 residents, and announced the results on the 22nd.

Disaster basic income is being actively discussed for introduction in various countries overseas, including the United States, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Germany, due to the spread of COVID-19.

According to the survey results, 78% of residents responded that it is 'necessary' for the government or local governments to provide disaster basic income. Respondents said that an average payment of 760,000 KRW per person would be appropriate if disaster basic income is introduced.

Regarding the target recipients and method of payment, 52%?more than half?expressed the opinion that "if only vulnerable groups are paid, the selection process will incur costs and time, so it should be paid to all citizens." On the other hand, 48% of respondents said, "vulnerable groups such as the unemployed, small business owners, and irregular workers should be selected and paid first."

For revitalizing the local economy, 73% of residents responded that it is "desirable" to provide the 'disaster basic income' not in cash but in local currency. Regarding the usage period of local currency, the order was ▲3 months (33%) ▲6 months (26%) ▲1 year (15%).

When asked whether disaster basic income would help economic revitalization and improve citizens' lives, 75% and 77% of respondents gave positive answers, respectively.

Also, when asked about the national economic situation due to COVID-19, 98% of residents answered that it is "serious."

Additionally, 70% of residents said that COVID-19 has affected their household finances.

Earlier, on the 19th, Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung stated on his SNS, "The government must provide disaster basic income equally to all citizens," adding, "The reason is that disaster basic income is not a welfare policy implemented for people in difficulty when the economy is normal, but a key economic policy to overcome the disastrous economic crisis."

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