Emergency Disaster Relief Fund, Donation VS Consumption

Residents applying for emergency disaster relief funds at the Jisan 2-dong Administrative Welfare Center in Dong-gu, Gwangju Metropolitan City.

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Seon-gang] Opinions are divided in the Gwangju area over the government’s temporary support program to overcome the COVID-19 crisis, the ‘Emergency Disaster Relief Fund,’ with some advocating for donations and others emphasizing the need for consumption.

While some people voluntarily pledge to donate by not applying for the Emergency Disaster Relief Fund from the start, donating half of the support, or inquiring about donations after receiving the fund, others argue that consumption according to government guidelines is necessary to revive the local economy.

According to Gwangju Metropolitan City on the 21st, the city will participate in overcoming the COVID-19 economic crisis by donating the Emergency Disaster Relief Fund and promoting consumption campaigns.

Mayor Lee Yong-seop and 119 senior officials at the level of department head or higher have decided to voluntarily donate the Emergency Disaster Relief Fund, which the government plans to provide to all citizens, by not applying or other means.

Lawmakers elected from the Democratic Party representing Gwangju and Jeonnam in the 21st general election have also decided to donate.

Song Gap-seok, Chairman of the Democratic Party Gwangju City Committee, stated, “We express our respect to healthcare workers and citizens who are tirelessly working to prevent the spread of COVID-19, and the lawmakers elected in the 21st general election will take the lead in the voluntary donation movement to overcome COVID-19.”

Some members of the Seo-gu Council in Gwangju also joined the ‘Emergency Disaster Relief Fund Donation’ movement.

Earlier, on the 7th, President Moon Jae-in expressed his intention to donate the entire amount, saying, “Donations are not made by those who have money, but by those who have heart,” and on the 11th, the start date for applying for the Emergency Disaster Relief Fund, the leadership of the Democratic Party also conducted a collective donation pledge.

While donations are mainly made by some public officials, heads of institutions, and politicians, the opinions of citizens were somewhat different.

Some citizens said, “I will consume half and donate half,” or “I did not apply from the start because I wanted to donate,” while others emphasized that rather than seeing it as ‘free money,’ consumption should be made quickly to revive the local economy.

A citizen supporting donations explained, “I had never donated even once in my life, so I wanted to participate in the donation movement,” and added, “Consumption is good, but I am satisfied that through donations, I created another memorable experience with my family.”

A public official supporting consumption said, “The main purpose of the Emergency Disaster Relief Fund is ‘consumption,’” and added, “If I were a social leader, instead of simply donating, I would immediately purchase goods or food from traditional markets or local small business owners with the disaster relief fund and donate these ‘goods’ to vulnerable groups, publicizing this to the people to promote consumption in line with the original intent.”

Ultimately, in the case of the ‘Emergency Disaster Relief Fund,’ donation and consumption are not ‘wrong’ but ‘different.’ Wise judgment by the beneficiaries is expected.

Meanwhile, as the COVID-19 situation prolongs, the government decided to provide ‘disaster relief funds’ to all citizens regardless of income or property to stabilize citizens’ lives and support economic recovery.

It also stated that as economic activities and consumer sentiment have significantly contracted and difficulties in the overall livelihood economy have expanded, the Emergency Disaster Relief Fund is a ‘national safety net’ provided by the government to stabilize citizens’ lives and recover the weakened economy, which is desperately needed by small business owners, self-employed people, and the public.

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