20,000 Won Communication Fee Controversy Continues... Kim Sang-jo "80,000 Won for 4-Person Households"

Cheong "Emphasizes Practical Help for Difficult Families"
Ruling Party "Better Than Not Receiving Support"
Opposition "Allowance Level... Are They Sane?" Criticizes

President Moon Jae-in stated at the 8th Emergency Economic Meeting held at the Blue House on the 10th that the 20,000 won communication fee support for all citizens aged 13 and over is "a small comfort and sincerity from the government for all citizens who are having difficulty with free face-to-face contact and economic activities due to COVID-19." The photo shows a telecommunications store in downtown Seoul on the same day.

As the National Assembly prepares to review the fourth supplementary budget worth 7.8 trillion won, the debate over the "20,000 won communication fee support for citizens aged 13 and older" is intensifying daily. In response to criticism from the opposition that the amount is merely "pocket money" and lacks effectiveness, Kim Sang-jo, Chief of the Blue House Policy Office, personally rebutted by stating that it amounts to 80,000 won for a four-person household and is effective.

On the 11th, Kim appeared on KBS's "News 9" and said, "(The communication fee support) has a meaning beyond consolation, as compensation," adding, "It will provide practical help to families in difficulty." He continued, "For households of 3 to 4 people, it amounts to 60,000 to 80,000 won." This was a rebuttal to the opposition parties, including the People Power Party, who raised concerns about the effectiveness of the 20,000 won per person communication fee support, arguing that it could be helpful when considered on a household basis.

Earlier, President Moon Jae-in also emphasized the purpose of the communication fee support as "a small consolation and sincerity from the government." At the 8th Emergency Economic Meeting held at the Blue House on the 10th, President Moon said, "It is a small consolation and sincerity from the government for all citizens who find free face-to-face contact and economic activities difficult due to COVID-19."

The Democratic Party holds the position that "it is better than not receiving anything," but the People Power Party criticizes it as "pocket money for children," forecasting a difficult path ahead in the National Assembly review next week.

On the 11th, Democratic Party lawmaker Ahn Min-seok said on CBS Radio's "Kim Hyun-jung's News Show" regarding the communication fee support, "Although insufficient, wouldn't it be better than not receiving it at all?" He added, "I hope it can be seen as part of measures that can scratch the public's itchy backs."

On the other hand, Joo Ho-young, floor leader of the People Power Party, pointed out at the same day's floor strategy meeting, "They say they are providing 20,000 won because communication fees increased due to non-face-to-face telecommuting, but in reality, the communication fees paid by citizens did not increase due to flat-rate plans."

After the meeting, he told reporters, "They are planning to give nearly 1 trillion won to telecom companies, but in such a difficult fiscal situation, this is not a sensible action."

Choo Kyung-ho, the People Power Party lawmaker and ranking member of the Budget and Accounts Committee, also analyzed, "The 20,000 won communication fee is less than pocket money for children for each individual citizen, but amounts to 1 trillion won nationwide." He added, "The government initially said it would provide selective support when preparing the budget, but in the end, the true colors of a populist government have been revealed. We will cooperate with the ruling party to ensure payment before Chuseok, but we will thoroughly review it to prevent even a single won of tax from leaking."

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