Hong Nam-ki, Deputy Prime Minister, "If Disaster Relief Fund Needs Further Discussion, There Is Disagreement on 100% Payment"

Controversy Over Disease Control Headquarters' Annual Leave Compensation, "Consultation on Uniform Reduction Across All Ministries"
"Review of 'Annual Leave Carryover System' to Carry Over Leave to Next Year"

Deputy Prime Minister of Economy Hong Nam-ki is attending the full meeting of the National Assembly's Budget and Accounts Committee on the 28th. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyunjung] Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Strategy and Finance Hong Nam-ki stated on the 28th that if a situation arises where the emergency disaster relief fund, which was decided to be provided to all citizens nationwide in response to the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), needs to be discussed again, he would once again express dissent regarding the '100% payment plan.'

Deputy Prime Minister Hong appeared at the plenary meeting of the National Assembly's Planning and Finance Committee on the same day and said, "I hope a situation where emergency disaster relief funds need to be paid again does not arise, but if the amount of support needs to be discussed again, considering various circumstances, it will be adjusted to the necessary level rather than 100%," adding, "I think I will express a different opinion again on that."

Earlier, when Rep. Yoo Seung-min of the United Future Party asked, "If the COVID-19 crisis continues through fall and winter and the situation arises to provide support funds again, will you pay 100%?" he replied, "(The disaster relief fund is) a one-time payment," elaborating in this way.

Regarding Rep. Chu Kyung-ho of the United Future Party's question on whether it is desirable to expand the disaster relief fund from the original 70% to 100%, he did not change his previous stance, saying, "(The payment target) 70% was appropriate." He added, "From the fiscal authorities' standpoint, I think we have to express opposition."

Concerning the additional 4.6 trillion won in funds needed due to the expansion of the emergency disaster relief fund payment scope, he said, "The work to select projects for the additional 1 trillion won raised through expenditure restructuring is almost at the final stage," adding, "The 1 trillion won is mostly being prepared focusing on budgets that will not be executed or will be cut, so there will be no significant disruption to this year's budget execution."

Regarding the amount of donations that will determine the final fiscal burden, he stated, "It is uncertain whether 2 trillion won or 1.5 trillion won will be returned, but if the donated funds support unemployed and those out of employment in more vulnerable groups, it will be meaningful." When Rep. Yoo Seung-min asked whether Deputy Prime Minister Hong himself would donate his disaster relief fund, he said, "Of course, I will not accept it," but added that he would not force public officials and that it should be decided voluntarily. "It is not mandatory. It is a matter to decide voluntarily whether to donate," he said.

Regarding the controversy over the reduction of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency's annual leave compensation, he said, "We intend to consult with the National Assembly to reduce annual leave compensation equally across all ministries," adding, "Considering that public officials who had a hard time due to COVID-19 in the first half of the year should properly use their annual leave in the second half, and for those who still cannot use it, we are reviewing the 'annual leave carryover system' to carry it over to next year." He further explained, "Since excluding those at the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency from annual leave compensation payment is problematic, I think incentives or compensation in other forms should be provided to them."

Regarding the third supplementary budget bill to be submitted in early June, he said, "It inevitably involves a considerable amount of deficit bonds," adding, "For the third supplementary budget, if necessary and possible, we plan to carry out some expenditure restructuring concurrently."

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