Disaster Relief Fund Party-Government Discord Prompts President Moon to Step in for a "Quick Resolution"

After President Moon's Urging Message, Government and Ruling Party Find Common Ground... Rapid Progress in Discussing Nationwide Support and Disaster Relief Funds

[Asia Economy Reporter Ryu Jeong-min] "President Moon Jae-in urged at a morning meeting with his aides that the emergency disaster relief fund must be settled quickly no matter what."

The statement conveyed by Kang Min-seok, Blue House spokesperson, on the 22nd is related to the background behind the rapid progress of the ruling party's discussion on the 'COVID-19' emergency disaster relief fund.

It is said that President Moon personally stepped in as a troubleshooter when the ruling party and the government showed discord over the scope of the emergency disaster relief fund support. The Democratic Party of Korea brought up the card of providing emergency disaster relief funds to all citizens during the general election process. However, the Ministry of Economy and Finance insisted on the government's original plan of providing funds to the bottom 70% income bracket, citing national fiscal soundness issues. The ruling party sharpened its stance, even mentioning the Ministry of Economy and Finance's 'political intentions.'

[Image source=Yonhap News]

President Moon repeatedly emphasized that speed is important in responding to COVID-19, but the situation led to a power struggle between the government and the ruling party. The message from the United Future Party to the ruling party to "persuade the government first" was also an embarrassing moment for the ruling party.

President Moon's message to "settle it quickly" became a catalyst for resolving the ruling party's internal turbulence. Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said on the same day, "If a system allowing voluntary donations from high-income earners is established in the National Assembly, the government will accept it."

This was a conditional acceptance of the proposal by Cho Jeong-sik, chairman of the Democratic Party's Policy Committee, to provide emergency disaster relief funds to all citizens while inducing voluntary donations from high-income earners to ease the fiscal burden.

The voluntary donation card is not considered President Moon's solution but has been consistently raised within the ruling party. It is a compromise plan that takes the form of providing emergency disaster relief funds to all citizens while alleviating the fiscal burden.

Regarding this, Prime Minister Chung reportedly called Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance Hong Nam-ki, saying, "The public is uncomfortable with the ruling party and government continuing to show discord," and made efforts to persuade him. As a member of the Democratic Party, Prime Minister Chung emphasized the importance of political judgment. Policy Committee Chairman Cho explained, "The party's position was conveyed to the government, and Prime Minister Chung played a role in building consensus between the party and the government."

A key Blue House official supported Prime Minister Chung's announcement, saying, "The party, government, and Blue House are one, and (the issue of the scope of emergency disaster relief fund payments) has been coordinated."

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