Future United Party Pushes Government's Disaster Relief Fund Plan While Attacking Democratic Party

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] The United Future Party is launching an offensive against the ruling Democratic Party of Korea after facing a flood of criticism for reversing its stance on providing 100% disaster relief payments. Supporting the government's proposal to provide aid only to the lower 70%, they are counterattacking by asking, "Who is holding back the government?" Meanwhile, confusion is escalating as voices within the Democratic Party call for withdrawing the demand for 100% disaster relief payments and criticize the Ministry of Economy and Finance.

Kim Jae-won, chairman of the Future United Party's Policy Committee and chair of the National Assembly's Budget and Accounts Committee, appeared on YTN Radio's "Noh Young-hee's Start of a New Morning" on the 21st and criticized the Democratic Party's stance, saying, "The ruling party, failing to persuade the government side, is trying to issue national bonds to provide disaster relief payments to the top 30% income households."

Before the general election, former leader Hwang Kyo-ahn of the United Future Party announced a position to provide 500,000 won to all citizens at 100%, but after the election, the stance changed to providing aid only to the lower 70%. Regarding the criticism of this "flip-flop," Policy Committee Chairman Kim said, "Speak with proper understanding," explaining that the 500,000 won payment plan was based on reallocating 512 trillion won from the government's budget to secure a 100 trillion won budget. He clarified that since the government did not make efforts to reallocate the 100 trillion won, the position was not changed.

The United Future Party supports the government's 70% plan and appears to blame the Democratic Party for the delay in disaster relief payments. Chairman Kim said, "We are willing to pass the government's budget, but the ruling party, unable to persuade the government side, is opposing the government budget." Kim's term as chair of the Budget and Accounts Committee ends at the end of next month, and if no agreement is reached by then, discussions will move to the next National Assembly. United Future Party lawmaker Jang Je-won also pointed out on his Facebook that "When the government expressed reluctance to the Democratic Party's proposal to provide disaster relief payments to all citizens, the Democratic Party suddenly started attacking the United Future Party," adding, "It seems awkward for the ruling party to block the government, so they are criticizing the innocent opposition party."

In this regard, Democratic Party lawmaker Lee Seok-hyun stated on Facebook that "It would be better if our party stops insisting on 100% disaster relief payments after explaining to the public." He reasoned that it was an incomplete pledge made in response to former leader Hwang's 100% payment claim and that the United Future Party now supports the government's plan.

Former Democratic Party Strategic Planning Committee Chairman Lee Geun-hyung strongly criticized the Ministry of Economy and Finance, which opposes nationwide disaster relief payments, saying it is "politicking." On the 21st, appearing on MBC Radio's "Kim Joong-bae's Focus," he responded to a question about solutions for emergency disaster relief payments, saying, "We should follow through on what was promised during the election. The opposition party should do the same." He added, "Changing the stance now would be seen as rejecting the general election results. The controversy over whether to provide aid to all citizens or only 70% is about a difference of about 3 trillion won, which is not a financial issue." He continued, "It is a matter of philosophy, and the Ministry of Economy and Finance insisting on this is, in fact, political maneuvering by the ministry."

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