People Power Party Emphasizes 'Selective Support' for Disaster Relief Funds: "Is Money Distributed to All Citizens Every Election?"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporters Lee Ji-eun and Lim Chun-han] The People Power Party has collectively criticized the discussions around the '4th Disaster Relief Fund' being raised mainly by the ruling party as a populist policy ahead of the by-elections. Emergency Response Committee Chairman Kim Jong-in emphasized selective support for the 3rd Disaster Relief Fund.

Chairman Kim said at the National Assembly Emergency Response Committee meeting on the morning of the 11th, "Although the government is currently discussing the 4th Disaster Relief Fund, it would be more effective to focus support on small business owners, SMEs, and self-employed individuals with the 3rd Disaster Relief Fund," expressing this view.

This can be interpreted as meaning that it is important to focus on the 3rd Disaster Relief Fund before discussing the 4th.

Policy Committee Chairman Lee Jong-bae pointed out, "The 3rd Disaster Relief Fund has not even been distributed yet, but the ruling party and government are stoking the flames for a nationwide disaster relief fund aimed at the April by-elections," adding, "The ruling party’s advocacy for distribution and the Deputy Prime Minister of Economy’s caution are a familiar pattern."

He said, "Before last year’s general election, Deputy Prime Minister Hong Nam-ki expressed reluctance toward a nationwide disaster relief fund citing fiscal soundness, but the ruling party even called for his dismissal, and the fund was eventually implemented," adding, "There are concerns that this by-election will also degenerate into (populism)."

Emergency Response Committee member Sung Il-jong also criticized, "It seems they plan to hand out money to everyone at every election now," calling them "an irresponsible ruling party that only cares about winning elections and not the country’s future." He praised Deputy Prime Minister Hong, who stated that selective support for affected groups is preferable to nationwide support, as "the right judgment from the economic leader," and emphasized, "As the economic commander, endure the ruling party’s abuse of power. If you cannot prevent being contaminated by politics, you are unqualified as a bureaucrat and as a Deputy Prime Minister of the country."

There were also criticisms that the recent consideration of the 'real estate regulation easing' card mainly by the ruling party is a populist policy aimed at the election. Emergency Response Committee member Kim Hyun-ah said, "The proposal to ease capital gains tax for multi-homeowners has been steadily raised in the market, but the timing of suddenly reviewing it before the election is suspicious," and criticized, "If you are going to adjust capital gains tax, do it broadly rather than targeting only some multi-homeowners."

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