Joo Ho-young: "Disaster Relief Funds Should Maximize Use of Existing Budget Instead of National Bonds"

Joo Ho-young, floor leader of the United Future Party, is attending the Emergency Measures Committee meeting held at the National Assembly on the 24th and delivering opening remarks. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] Hong Nam-ki, Deputy Prime Minister for Economy, stated that if a second disaster relief fund is provided, it should be done 100% through government bonds. In response, Joo Ho-young, floor leader of the United Future Party, raised his voice saying, "We should utilize the existing budget by reducing it as much as possible."

On the 25th, Floor Leader Joo said in an interview on KBS Radio's 'Kim Kyung-rae's Strongest Current Affairs,' "The 2020 main budget of 512 trillion won was created assuming a normal state without COVID-19."

He added, "Deputy Prime Minister Hong says that 100% of the funds must be raised by issuing deficit government bonds, but I cannot understand that. Due to various socio-economic changes caused by COVID-19, we should drastically reduce budgets that can be cut and use those funds to support those suffering from COVID-19."

He also emphasized selective distribution of the disaster relief fund. He said, "Supporting public officials or salaried workers whose income has not decreased due to COVID-19 is inefficient," and "Rather than supporting the entire population, support should be strengthened for those who truly need it."

Regarding claims that disaster relief funds should be provided by cutting public officials' salaries, he said, "We have already donated 30% of our salaries for seven months from June to December to help those in difficulty," and added, "We have only clarified that point, and we have not yet reached a consensus on cutting public officials' salaries."

He also expressed his intention to distance the party from the far-right. Floor Leader Joo said, "There is a tendency to lump together those called far-right in society with our party, saying they are the same conservative group even though their party is different from ours," and "Because of claims by those people that do not align with the general sentiment of the public, our entire party is being perceived as a party with such people."

He continued, "Big data and public opinion experts advise that 'We must clearly state that we oppose such thoughts and that our views are different so that moderate citizens can support the party,'" and "We are considering taking the direction advised by the experts."

Regarding Speaker Park Byeong-seok's request to recommend members for the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Unit (HCUI) candidate recommendation committee, he said, "The Blue House special inspector position has been vacant for four years, and the North Korean Human Rights Foundation board members have also been vacant for several years," adding, "It is wrong to delay recommending members who must be recommended for four or five years and, instead, urge recommendations for this committee, which has only been in effect for a month after passing."

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