Prime Minister Jeong Warns Ministry of Economy and Finance Over Dissenting Voices on 'Universal Disaster Relief Payments'

Prime Minister Jeong Sye-kyun

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwangho Lee] Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun warned on the 23rd that the Ministry of Economy and Finance's claim that he did not agree to the payment of the emergency disaster relief fund for all citizens amid the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic was an "undesirable appearance."

After concluding the National Affairs Inspection and Coordination Meeting on the 23rd, Prime Minister Chung said through an email briefing by Kim Young-soo, the Public Relations Officer of the Prime Minister's Office, "While I do not fail to understand the Ministry of Economy and Finance's concerns about fiscal soundness, it is by no means desirable that statements causing confusion among the public are reported in the media despite the government's position being settled in broad terms."

The day before, right after the ruling party, the Democratic Party of Korea, announced a coordination plan among the party, government, and Blue House, Prime Minister Chung expressed the position that "if a system allowing voluntary donations from high-income earners is established in the National Assembly, the government will accept it." However, when reports emerged that some within the Ministry of Economy and Finance disagreed with this, it appears that Prime Minister Chung took steps to clarify the situation firmly.

Prime Minister Chung explained, "I felt sorry to the public as it seemed that the government and the ruling party were in conflict over the emergency disaster relief fund in the past few days," adding, "As Prime Minister, I thought it necessary to resolve such confusion as soon as possible."

He emphasized, "Therefore, after exchanging opinions with the Blue House yesterday and consulting with the Deputy Prime Minister, I clarified and announced the position that if a system allowing voluntary donations and participation from high-income earners is established in the National Assembly, the government will accept it."

He went on to point out, "However, despite the Prime Minister issuing this official position on behalf of the government, reports containing statements from some Ministry of Economy and Finance officials such as 'It was an agreement between the party and the Prime Minister, so the Ministry of Economy and Finance is not involved,' and 'The Ministry of Economy and Finance's position has not changed' are being published."

Prime Minister Chung's remarks on this day are interpreted as a measure to "reinforce discipline" in response to lingering dissatisfaction within the Ministry of Economy and Finance, even after a compromise plan among the party, government, and Blue House was reached to provide nationwide payments and secure funding through voluntary donations by persuading Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance Hong Nam-ki.

Prime Minister Chung requested, "I hope the Deputy Prime Minister for Economy will accurately convey my intentions to the Ministry of Economy and Finance," and the Prime Minister's Office reported that Kim Yong-beom, the First Vice Minister of Economy and Finance, who attended the meeting in place of Deputy Prime Minister Hong Nam-ki, who was absent due to local schedules, responded, "We will take special care going forward and will properly convey this to the staff."

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