Gyeonggi Mayors and County Chiefs Association Proposes Introduction of Disaster Basic Income to Government

[Asia Economy (Uijeongbu) = Reporter Lee Young-gyu] The Gyeonggi-do Mayors and Governors Association proposed to the government on the 24th the introduction of disaster basic income in response to the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19).

The core idea is to provide payments to all citizens without distinguishing based on income.

In the proposal, the association stated, "A 'policy of addition' aimed at social integration is necessary, but if we select and filter 'the wealthy' and 'the poor' based on income brackets, it will become a policy of subtraction," and argued, "It should be universally provided to all citizens."

This means that in the current situation, which is comparable to wartime, the necessary policy should be an economic approach for everyone, not welfare for a few.

They added, "Active support through local currency equivalent to cash support or temporary Onnuri gift certificates issuance is needed to prevent the collapse of the common people's economy," and "Currently discussed measures such as automobile tax reductions, corporate support, and landlord support are passive supports."

The association emphasized, "As people refrain from going out and consumption shrinks, the economic situation of self-employed and small business owners is deteriorating to the worst," and "In Korea, where the proportion of self-employed is high, disaster basic income that stimulates consumption within a deadline is an urgent alternative."

An Byeong-yong, chairman of the Gyeonggi-do Mayors and Governors Association (Mayor of Uijeongbu), said, "Bold economic policies at the government level are urgent," and "Although there were opinions to limit it to small business owners and vulnerable groups, the majority of mayors and governors actively supported the introduction of disaster basic income."

Earlier, Lee Jae-myung, Governor of Gyeonggi-do, announced the 'Gyeonggi-do type disaster basic income,' which provides 100,000 won per person to 13.26 million residents of the province.

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