Emergency Disaster Relief Fund: Ruling Party Takes a Step Back

Lee In-young "If the United Party decides on 70% payment as party policy, the Democratic Party will also clarify its position"... Suggests possibility of negotiation
Shim Jae-chul "If the party-government agreement is reached, we will follow it as is"

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeon Jin-young] Lee In-young, the floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, on the 22nd suggested the possibility of negotiations to promptly provide emergency disaster relief funds if the United Future Party's party stance on the payment is decided as payment to the bottom 70% income group. He indicated his intention to abandon the existing principle of paying 100% of the people and agree to the payment to the bottom 70% income group advocated by the government and the United Future Party.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Lee held a Supreme Council meeting at the National Assembly in the morning and said, "The United Future Party should clearly state its final position on the party stance regarding the emergency disaster relief funds," adding, "If the United Future Party has changed its party stance to payment to 70%, we will review the response and start organizing the Democratic Party's position within a day or two." He continued, "We can no longer just wait," emphasizing, "As soon as the United Future Party's official position is clearly confirmed, we will find a quick way to provide the funds under the current circumstances."

He also said, "I hope the United Future Party clearly declares whether its party stance on emergency disaster relief funds is still for payment to all citizens or if it has changed due to the claim of Representative Kim Jae-won. If it has changed, please declare it clearly," and launched an offensive toward the United Future Party, saying, "If they oppose this and oppose that, I cannot help but ask what exactly they want us to do."

Lee then pressured by referring to the 'payment to all citizens' initially proposed by the United Future Party. He said, "It was former leader Hwang Kyo-ahn who loudly demanded giving 500,000 won to all citizens," and added, "The Democratic Party fully accepted such opposition demands and even reversed the promise of 70% payment agreed with the government and the Blue House, changing the policy to payment to all citizens."

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