Disaster Relief Fund 'Fairness' Debate... Opposition Party Focuses Fire on Lee Jae-myung

Ahn Cheol-soo "Silent on Regime's Core Cheating"
Won Hee-ryong "Equal Payment Is Not Fair"
Ha Tae-kyung "President Cursed for Rejecting Own Claims"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Chun-han] The political sphere has ignited a 'fairness' debate surrounding the second round of disaster relief funds. This started when Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung labeled the selective distribution of disaster relief funds as 'unfair.' The opposition parties launched a barrage of criticism at Governor Lee, asking, "What is the standard of fairness?"

On the 7th, Ahn Cheol-soo, leader of the People’s Party, said at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly, "It would be easier for me to say, if only thinking about political gain, to give to everyone, to give more. But I cannot do that in good conscience." He criticized, "There is a widespread unfairness that causes greater anger than whether one receives 100,000 won or not. To speak of unfairness while remaining silent about the rule-breaking, privileges, and unfair acts of several key figures in this administration is inconsistent."

The People Power Party also targeted Governor Lee. On the 6th, Won Hee-ryong, Governor of Jeju, wrote on Facebook, "I do not think fairness means everyone receiving the same amount." He emphasized, "Through various government fiscal policies, it is fair to enable citizens with different circumstances to ultimately enjoy similar benefits." He added, "How could the government of the Republic of Korea ignore citizens struggling due to the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) economic crisis and set a policy of focused tailored support?" and said, "These are not citizens who would blame the government for discrimination, saying 'give me mine too,' while neighbors face a survival crisis."

Ha Tae-kyung, a member of the People Power Party, pointed out, "Governor Lee said that the people are more outraged by unfairness than poverty. That is absolutely right. But he himself did not utter a single criticism during the Cho Kuk scandal, which was the epitome of unfairness." He added, "Now, he is cursing President Moon Jae-in because his claim regarding the disaster relief fund distribution method is not accepted." Kwon Young-se, also from the People Power Party, questioned, "What is Governor Lee’s standard of fairness and unfairness?" and warned, "If shallow emotional populism begins to dominate our society, Venezuela will no longer be a distant place."

Earlier, Governor Lee expressed dissatisfaction with the ruling party and government’s selective distribution of disaster relief funds. Especially by mentioning President Moon by name, it caused subtle political repercussions. Governor Lee referred to the phrase '不患貧 患不均 (Buhwanbin Hwanbulgyun ? The people are more outraged by unfairness than poverty)' and stated, "I clearly see the conflicts and confusion caused by division, the sense of alienation due to exclusion, and the resentment and betrayal toward the Moon Jae-in administration, the Democratic Party, and further toward the nation and community spreading like wildfire." He continued, "In a democratic republic where the people are the owners, I am deeply fearful of the aftershocks that forced discrimination imposed by representatives during a difficult and uncertain crisis will bring."

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