The Democratic Party Mentions 'Nationwide Disaster Relief Fund' Again Ahead of Election... Opposition Says "A Tactic to Buy Public Opinion with Money"

Ruling Party: "We Can Support the Entire Nation to Boost the Economy"
Opposition: "Profiting from the April 15 General Election," Criticizes

Lee Nak-yeon, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, raises his hand to greet online participants at the launch ceremony of the Youth Future Council held at the National Assembly on the 4th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] On the 5th, the opposition party fiercely criticized the ruling party's demand for nationwide disaster relief payments, citing economic recovery as a reason, calling it a "populist policy" and "a scheme to buy public opinion with money."

The idea of nationwide disaster relief payments was first proposed by the next presidential candidates of the Democratic Party of Korea. Lee Nak-yeon, the leader of the Democratic Party, said in an interview with 'KBS' on the 4th, "Once the COVID-19 situation calms down to some extent, nationwide support can be provided to stimulate the economy."

However, regarding the timing of the payment, he stated, "If we tell people to 'consume' while COVID-19 is spreading rapidly, it could negatively affect quarantine efforts," adding, "It can be considered once COVID-19 is under control."

Another presidential candidate, Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung, also raised the necessity of universal payments. On the same day, he sent a letter to 300 lawmakers from both ruling and opposition parties and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance Hong Nam-ki, urging that "bold expansionary fiscal policies are essential to overcome structural low growth, the crisis caused by COVID-19, alleviate polarization, and revitalize the economy," and called for disaster relief payments to be made to all citizens in the form of local currency.

Hong Ik-pyo, chairman of the Democratic Party's Policy Committee, also appeared on KBS Radio's 'Kim Kyung-rae's Strongest Current Affairs' on the 5th, saying, "As the COVID-19 situation eases somewhat and regarding economic recovery, if the time comes when universal or nationwide payments are necessary, we are willing to actively discuss it."

Kim Jong-in, Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, is speaking at the 2nd Ontact Policy Workshop held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul on the 5th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the other hand, the People Power Party expressed discomfort with the ruling party's call for nationwide disaster relief payments. They pointed out that proposing additional support shortly after reflecting the third disaster relief payment in this year's budget only causes policy confusion.

Kim Jong-in, chairman of the People Power Party's Emergency Response Committee, said at the 2nd Ontact Policy Workshop on the same day, "Recently, the ruling party suddenly brought up the idea of giving disaster relief payments to all citizens due to the COVID-19 situation. During the budget deliberations, we agreed to secure disaster relief funds because we didn't know how long COVID-19 would last," adding, "We barely secured about 3 trillion won, and now talks of supplementary budgets are suddenly coming up."

He criticized, "It's only been a few days since the start of this year, and talks of supplementary budgets are already happening. The reality is that the Moon Jae-in administration cannot even look a month ahead in governing."

Lee Jong-bae, chairman of the People Power Party's Policy Committee, also harshly criticized the ruling party at a meeting between the party's floor and the Legislation and Judiciary Committee held at the National Assembly on the same day, calling it a "shallow scheme to buy public opinion with money."

He condemned the ruling party for mentioning a '4th disaster relief payment' for all citizens even before the '3rd disaster relief payment' worth 9.3 trillion won had begun, saying, "Lee Nak-yeon is stoking the fire for disaster relief payments, and behind him, the Democratic Party's Supreme Council members are providing support fire. It's outrageous to do this for the election."

The Policy Committee chairman pointed out that the ruling party had advantageously used the disaster relief payment issue before the 21st general election, saying, "It is well known that they benefited greatly from this in the general election," and criticized, "Bringing this up 90 days before the Seoul and Busan mayoral by-elections is a scheme to buy departing public opinion with money." He warned, "There will be stern judgment following the distorted government operation."

Some criticized the nationwide disaster relief payment as a 'populist' policy aimed at buying votes ahead of the Seoul and Busan mayoral by-elections scheduled for April.

Hwang Bo Seung-hee, a member of the People Power Party, appeared on JTBC's 'New Year's Special Debate' on the same day and said, "After the first disaster relief payment, the Democratic Party argued that selective welfare should be implemented. However, with the new year, their stance suddenly changed. They say disaster relief payments should be given to all citizens," adding, "I question whether this is an attempt to capitalize again on the halo effect of providing payments to all citizens ahead of the election and the April 15 general election."

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