The Ruling Party, After Promising Nationwide Payments, Hesitates Over Disaster Relief Funds

Lee Hae-chan, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is attending the disbandment ceremony of the Election Countermeasures Committee held at the central party office in Yeouido, Seoul, on the 17th, delivering a greeting./Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Wondara] The Democratic Party of Korea, which pledged to provide emergency disaster relief funds to all citizens during the general election process, has found itself in a dilemma. Having secured the position of a '180-seat supermajority ruling party,' it can no longer blame the opposition party, thus increasing its sense of responsibility as the ruling party. Furthermore, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance Hong Nam-ki has applied the brakes, raising calls for caution.

Jeon Hae-cheol, the Democratic Party’s Budget and Accounts Committee whip, said in a phone interview with Asia Economy on the 17th, when asked, "In the process of discussing the second supplementary budget, do you plan to discuss 100% payment of the emergency disaster relief fund with the opposition?" that "Discussions have not yet reached 100%, and we plan to discuss such matters after the policy speech." Cho Jung-sik, the Democratic Party’s Policy Committee chairman, also said at a press briefing on the emergency disaster relief fund the previous day, "First, 70% (payment)," adding, "Regarding 100% payment, we intend to have sufficient consultations during the parliamentary review process." He was also reserved about the possibility of a third supplementary budget, saying, "The second supplementary budget has not yet been processed."

The remarks by Whip Jeon and Policy Committee Chairman Cho are interpreted as reflecting a cautious stance within the Democratic Party regarding the emergency disaster relief fund. A ruling party official said, "Given the uncertainty about how long the COVID-19 pandemic will last, we cannot ignore fiscal soundness," adding, "There is a cautious view about 100% payment." Deputy Prime Minister Hong made clear in a briefing the previous day, "Some in the political sphere have called for 100% support for all citizens and households, but from the government's perspective, the support criterion of the bottom 70% income bracket was decided after extensive discussion, considering fiscal capacity and other factors," indicating the difficulty of expanding support.

However, since the Democratic Party leadership pledged 100% payment of the emergency disaster relief fund during the election campaign, it is difficult to reverse this promise. On the 13th, during a campaign rally supporting candidate Go Min-jeong in Seoul’s Gwangjin District, Floor Leader Lee In-young said, "If you elect candidate Go, I and the Democratic Party will do our utmost to provide emergency disaster relief funds to 100% of the people," urging, "Please support candidate Go so that we can overcome the economic crisis in this critical time." Candidate Go was elected to the 21st National Assembly with 50.3% of the vote, defeating candidate Oh Se-hoon, who received 47.8%.

Meanwhile, to expand the scope of emergency disaster relief fund payments in the second supplementary budget, discussions with the United Future Party are necessary, but no talks have taken place between the two parties since the general election. The Democratic Party plans to hold a policy speech next week and then proceed with the review of the supplementary budget. A Democratic Party official said, "Floor Leader Shim Jae-chul and others from the United Future Party have not responded at all."

The scheduled meeting between the two parties’ floor leaders was also canceled that day. However, some in the opposition, who are searching for reasons behind their 'general election defeat,' have voiced that they should actively cooperate with the supplementary budget. United Future Party lawmaker Jung Byung-guk said in an MBC radio interview that morning, in response to a question about the emergency committee, "Even if such measures are taken, the people who have left will not return," adding, "We must cooperate with the government's supplementary budget. Criticism just for the sake of criticism that obstructs progress is not acceptable."

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