"Choi Jaeseong, Proposer of 20,000 Won Communication Fee," Cheong Denies: "Only Political Coordination Done"

Kang Min-seok Spokesperson: "Only Coordinated Positions Among Party, Government, and Cheong"

Choi Jae-sung, Senior Secretary for Political Affairs at the Blue House (left), and Kim Jong-ho, Senior Secretary for Civil Affairs, are standing and talking at the senior secretaries and aides meeting held at the Blue House on the 14th.

Regarding some media reports claiming that Choi Jae-sung, Senior Secretary for Political Affairs, was the proposer of the idea to provide nationwide communication subsidies as disaster relief funds related to the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), Blue House spokesperson Kang Min-seok denied on the 22nd, stating, "Senior Secretary Choi only politically coordinated the positions of the party, government, and Blue House, nothing more or less."

On the same day, some media outlets reported that Senior Secretary Choi was the first to propose the government's plan to provide 20,000 KRW in communication fees to all citizens aged 13 and above.

Earlier, the government set aside 920 billion KRW under the name of providing 20,000 KRW in communication fees to all citizens as part of the 7.8 trillion KRW 4th supplementary budget. Ahead of the National Assembly's review of the 4th supplementary budget, the 20,000 KRW communication fee became a key issue. The opposition criticized it as "pocket money for children," while the ruling party countered, "It's better than not receiving anything."

After ongoing conflicts, the ruling and opposition parties agreed on selective payments by age group on the 22nd. According to the agreement, the communication fee payment targets were narrowed down to two age groups: ▲16 to 34 years old ▲65 years old and above. Children aged 13 to 15 receiving special care allowances for middle school students were excluded from the communication fee support due to overlapping support. Accordingly, the related budget was reduced by approximately 520.6 billion KRW.

Park Hong-geun, the Democratic Party's budget committee spokesperson, explained, "This is the result of defending the proposal when the opposition demanded a complete cut of the communication fee support," adding, "The intention is to maximize minimum support for many people engaged in non-face-to-face activities due to COVID-19."

Meanwhile, on the 10th, when controversy over the communication fee payment plan was spreading, President Moon Jae-in said at the 8th Emergency Economic Meeting held at the Blue House that the purpose of the communication fee support was "a small comfort and sincerity from the government."

Kim Sang-jo, Chief of the Blue House Policy Office, appeared on a broadcast the next day and said, "(The communication fee support) has a meaning beyond comfort, as compensation," adding, "It will provide practical help to families in difficulty."

Despite opposition from the opposition parties, there was an evaluation that the government showed a willingness to stick to the original plan of providing 20,000 KRW in communication fees, but ultimately shifted to selective payments.

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