Kim Geun-sik: "Ruling Party's Nationwide Disaster Relief Fund Is an Attempt to Win Votes in the Election"

On July 16, at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, Kim Geun-sik, the head of the advisory group, is speaking at the Future United Party (currently People Power Party) 'Park Ji-won, nominee for National Intelligence Service Director, 2nd Hearing Advisory Group and Intelligence Committee Meeting.' Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Young-eun] Kim Geun-sik, the head of the People Power Party's Songpa-byeong district committee, criticized on the 6th the claim that disaster relief funds should be provided to the entire population, saying, "It is suspicious that the ruling party is quietly raising the issue of providing disaster relief funds to all citizens ahead of the by-election."

On the same day, Kim wrote on his Facebook, "The intention is obvious. Is the suspicion that this is a legal bribery attempt to gain votes by distributing tax money before the election just a simple worry?"

He continued, "Cash payments to all citizens already had a powerful effect in the April 15 general election," adding, "After the general election, the second and third rounds of disaster relief funds emphasized that selective support was appropriate, and there was even a debate between Governor Lee Jae-myung, who advocated universal payments, and the Deputy Prime Minister of Economy."

He further pointed out, "There is also the issue of fiscal capacity, and it is clearly abnormal to talk about supplementary budgets before the new year's budget execution has even begun in earnest," and criticized, "Before the third payment has even started, stirring up the idea of disaster relief funds for all citizens again is clearly a trial balloon ahead of the April by-election."

Kim emphasized, "We need to approach those struggling due to COVID-19 with more effective and focused support. The answer is targeted support that provides more frequent and larger payments to the necessary groups after considering fiscal soundness and spending efficiency, not universal payments to all citizens," and stressed, "Do not use fiscal resources as a tool for elections, and do not treat taxes as personal pocket money."

Earlier, some within the ruling party argued that disaster relief funds should be provided to all citizens in response to the third wave of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

Lee Nak-yeon, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, stated in an interview with 'KBS' on the 4th, "If COVID-19 subsides, we can also consider the plan for disaster relief funds for all citizens." Additionally, Lee Jae-myung, Governor of Gyeonggi Province, sent a letter on the 3rd to Park Byeong-seug, Speaker of the National Assembly, along with 300 lawmakers from both ruling and opposition parties and the Ministry of Strategy and Finance, saying, "It is necessary to provide disaster relief funds exceeding the scale of the first round to all citizens. We hope you will implement disaster relief funds universally paid to all citizens through local currency."

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