Lee Nak-yeon "Considering Introduction of 'COVID-19 Profit Sharing System'... Sharing Burdens and Benefits of Quarantine"

"Corona Boom Class Exists...'K Polarization'"
"Gym and Academy Issues Worth Listening To...Share Quarantine Pain and Achievements"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy reporters Wondara and Jeon Jinyoung] Lee Nak-yeon, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, suggested that the party consider introducing a 'COVID-19 profit-sharing system.'

At the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the morning of the 11th, Lee said, "We are currently in an era of COVID-19 polarization," adding, "There is a K-shaped polarization where the income of high earners increases while the income of low earners decreases, known as 'K polarization.'

He stated, "There are sectors enjoying a boom due to COVID-19. In Europe, those benefiting from the COVID boom are called winners and are asked to take social responsibility," and added, "I believe our society should also consider adopting various methods where sectors gaining significant profits contribute some of their earnings to help those who have suffered."

He continued, "Rather than enforcing the COVID-19 profit-sharing system introduced by some advanced countries, I hope the Policy Committee and the Democratic Research Institute will review ways to encourage voluntary participation together with civil society and the business community."

Regarding recent controversies over the fairness of COVID-19 quarantine guidelines, he said, "Concerns raised about bars, cafes, gyms, and fitness training centers are worth listening to," emphasizing, "We must provide fair social compensation to self-employed people who participated in quarantine efforts, share the burdens of quarantine fairly, and distribute the benefits equitably."

He added, "It is necessary to strengthen quarantine support for vulnerable industries and consider strict punishment such as one-strike-out policies, filing charges, or claiming damages against those who intentionally obstruct quarantine."

Regarding recent reports of large amounts of tritium detected at Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power's Wolseong Nuclear Power Plant, Lee said, "It has been reconfirmed that the closure of Wolseong Nuclear Power Plant was inevitable," criticizing, "It was truly an irresponsible political dispute. The Board of Audit and Inspection’s results, which failed to detect the unprecedented radioactive leak despite leaving Wolseong Nuclear Power Plant unattended for over a year, are hard to accept." He added, "Suspicions of tritium leakage at Wolseong Nuclear Power Plant have been raised for seven years. It is necessary to clearly investigate whether there was collusion with the so-called nuclear mafia, as public suspicion suggests."

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