Yoon Hee-sook "Another Debate Over 4th Disaster Relief Fund Recipients... Heartbreaking"

"COVID-19 Clearly Divides Winners and Losers... Nationwide Payments Are Election Engineering"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hye-min] On the 6th, Yoon Hee-sook, a member of the People Power Party, said, "There is still debate over whether to give the 4th disaster relief fund to all citizens or only to those who have been severely affected," adding, "Watching this breaks my heart."

On the same day, Yoon said on her Facebook, "The COVID-19 crisis, unlike other disasters, has clearly divided winners and losers," expressing her views.

She added, "During this nearly year-long crisis, self-employed people are on the verge of being forced out onto the streets, and vulnerable workers are losing their jobs. On the other hand, delivery restaurants are so busy that waiting an hour on the phone is normal, and 50% of the population has not experienced a decrease in income during the COVID-19 situation."

Yoon emphasized, "This is the limit now," and said, "We can no longer just brush off comments like last year’s support funds increasing Korean beef sales and feeling touched."

She criticized, "With business closures and the city almost in darkness after 9 p.m., it is painful to see stores with their lights off while walking the streets. Yet, knowing the situation clearly, there are claims that distributing support funds to all citizens will stimulate the economy because people will spend the money and go out." She added, "Whether it’s election politics or selling nationwide support funds as a personal brand, do as you please. But don’t link it to saving self-employed people, irregular workers, and daily laborers. Let’s talk about urgent matters first."

Yoon welcomed the 3rd disaster relief fund to be provided from the 11th to small business owners and vulnerable employment groups unconditionally, but stressed, "It is becoming clear that in this prolonged crisis, short-term support alone cannot prevent the collapse of people’s livelihoods and the loss of hope."

She said, "During ongoing business restrictions, support must be guaranteed at least for rent to businesses affected by the restrictions or experiencing a sharp drop in sales," adding, "We need a firm promise that society will support people’s livelihoods until the crisis ends, rather than making them wait for support funds swayed by election tactics and personal branding strategies that may come at an unknown time."

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