An Minseok "Communication fees, better than not receiving... Excluding entertainment bars from support reflects public sentiment"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Wondara] Ahn Min-seok, co-chairman of the Democratic Party of Korea's National Crisis Overcoming Committee, said regarding the controversy over the "uniform payment of 20,000 won for communication fees," "It is insufficient, but it is better than not receiving it." Regarding the exclusion of entertainment bars from the second disaster relief fund payment targets, he said, "We must consider the national sentiment."

On the morning of the 11th, Ahn appeared on CBS Radio and responded to the question, "The uniform payment of 20,000 won for communication fees is too small to feel and takes up 1 trillion won, so it's a dilemma," by saying, "Still, it would be better than not receiving it."

He said, "Especially in the case of communication fees, it can be a burden and a concern for the entire nation, so although it is insufficient, it would be better than not receiving it. I hope you see it as part of the government's measures to share the people's pain and burden even a little and to scratch an itch."

Regarding the controversy over the exclusion of entertainment bars from the support targets among the industries that closed due to the government's COVID-19 response guidelines, while hunting pubs and Danran bars are included, he said, "It's like getting angry when the person next to you eats even though you don't eat a single bean."

He added, "If support is given to entertainment bars that sell alcohol and allow hostesses, social consensus would be impossible. I think we must also consider the national sentiment as the basis of social consensus."

In response to the criticism that some Danran bars have hostesses, he rebutted, "Karaoke rooms are classified as type 1, entertainment bars as type 3, but Danran bars are legally prohibited from having hostesses. To provide prompt support, we have no choice but to judge based on registration standards."

Regarding the possibility of extending social distancing to level 2.5, he said, "It depends on whether we can get through this week's golden time period well. A decision should be made around early next week."

He continued, "Above all, what the people are most anxious about right now is the October 3rd (Gaecheonjeol) rally," and urged, "I hope Kim Jong-in, the emergency committee chairman of the People Power Party, will not just say to withdraw it verbally but sincerely work to prevent the Gaecheonjeol rally from taking place."

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