President Moon: "Selective support is an unavoidable choice... Payment before Chuseok" (Comprehensive)

Presiding Over Chief and Secretary Meeting... "Maximizing Effectiveness with Limited Resources"
"Please Bear With Us a Little Longer" Appeal for Cooperation in Quarantine Measures

President Moon Jae-in is presiding over the senior secretaries and aides meeting at the Blue House on the 7th.

President Moon Jae-in said on the 7th regarding the government's decision to selectively provide disaster relief funds, "Tailored disaster relief is an inevitable choice to maximize effectiveness with limited resources, considering various situations and circumstances."

In his opening remarks at the senior secretaries and aides meeting held at the Blue House that day, President Moon stated, "The government will expedite the procedures, including swiftly preparing the supplementary budget bill so that the support funds can be provided as much as possible before Chuseok."

President Moon explained, "The government has determined that a fourth supplementary budget is unavoidable and has defined its nature as tailored to the affected," adding, "This means focusing on the industries and groups most severely impacted to provide the thickest possible support." He further added, "By prioritizing support for those on the brink of survival, we aim to provide the maximum safety net to prevent the collapse of people's lives."

President Moon repeatedly emphasized that the government's selective support decision amid the resurgence phase of COVID-19 was an unavoidable choice considering the current situation. As critical voices arose within the ruling party and the broader pro-government camp regarding the government's decision, President Moon appeared to directly address the controversy.

Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung recently posted on Facebook accepting the ruling party and government’s policy of selective disaster relief payments but said, "I clearly see resentment and a sense of betrayal toward the Moon Jae-in administration, the Democratic Party, and even the nation and community spreading like wildfire in my eyes."

Sim Sang-jung, leader of the Justice Party, also criticized the government's selective payment policy that day, calling it "reckless and irresponsible" and expressing concern about the backlash. In a written executive committee meeting, she said, "It is a bureaucratic decision that does not consider the lives of the majority of citizens."

Seemingly aware of such public opinion, President Moon said, "There can be various opinions regarding the amount, target, and payment method of the second disaster relief," adding, "Since all citizens are cooperating with quarantine efforts despite the hardships and fatigue caused by COVID-19, the opinion to provide disaster relief funds to all citizens, even if the amount is small, also has merit."

However, President Moon said, "Realistically, the financial difficulties are significant," and added, "We have no choice but to cover the resources for the fourth supplementary budget by issuing government bonds." He also noted, "We cannot ignore the fact that we are still navigating the COVID-19 crisis and do not know when it will end."

President Moon said, "After much discussion and deliberation, the government and ruling party decided to prioritize industries, groups, and targets most severely affected, as the purpose of the fourth supplementary budget is to overcome the crisis," and asked, "I urge the public to understand and cooperate."

Additionally, President Moon promised, "We will actively seek additional necessary support measures for the people, such as ways to alleviate the increasing childcare burden on parents due to prolonged non-face-to-face education."

President Moon also requested cooperation from the political sphere, saying, "The opposition has also acknowledged the need for the supplementary budget and agreed on tailored support focusing on industries and groups severely affected," and added, "We will explain the prepared supplementary budget bill to the opposition in advance and ask the National Assembly to swiftly review and approve it."

Furthermore, President Moon expressed gratitude for the public’s cooperation with quarantine measures and appealed, "Please endure just a little longer."

President Moon evaluated, "The number of new domestic COVID-19 cases, which once surged to the 400s, has been in the 100s for five consecutive days and is continuing to decline," adding, "The strong measures swiftly taken by the government have begun to show gradual effects."

He continued, "Although there were many pessimistic forecasts that daily cases could exceed 1,000, our people have once again succeeded in reversing the situation," and said, "

Thanks to the citizens who actively participated in strengthened social distancing measures despite the inconveniences to daily life and economic damage."

President Moon said, "We will do our utmost to reduce the number of confirmed cases to below 100, in the double digits, before the Chuseok holiday to control COVID-19 at a stable level," and added, "We will do our best so that the people can return to normal daily life and economic activities as soon as possible."

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