Disaster Solidarity Tax Proposed by Justice Party, "Additional Tax on High Incomes... Increased Revenue to Support Vulnerable Groups"

Kang Eun-mi, Floor Leader, Delivers Speech for Non-Negotiating Groups at the National Assembly on the 4th
"We Must Enforce Social Responsibility, Not Rely on the Goodwill of the Wealthy"

[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Ju-yeon] The Justice Party has proposed a 'Special Disaster Solidarity Tax' that temporarily imposes additional taxes on high-income earners in the spirit of social solidarity to overcome COVID-19, using the increased tax revenue to support vulnerable groups.

The Justice Party has pointed out that the profit-sharing system proposed by Lee Nak-yeon, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, has been ineffective by merely encouraging voluntary participation from the private sector.

The Justice Party emphasized that, in order to secure funding, a disaster solidarity fund should be established through government bond issuance, and a universal disaster relief fund for the entire population should also be institutionalized.

Kang Eun-mi, co-leader of the Justice Party, is attending the 1st Emergency Measures Meeting held at the National Assembly on the 27th, delivering an opening remark. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

On the 4th, Kang Eun-mi, the Justice Party floor leader, stated in her speech representing minor parties at the National Assembly, "Disaster response is not a 100-meter sprint but a marathon," and called for institutionalizing support for damages caused by administrative orders. She proposed that losses based on actual operating profits should be partially compensated, and a 'universal disaster relief fund' for the entire population should be institutionalized.

She also called for the establishment of a special disaster solidarity fund.

Floor leader Kang said, "Instead of relying on the goodwill of the wealthy, let's enforce social responsibility in times of disaster and crisis," adding, "To overcome COVID-19, temporarily impose additional taxes on companies and individuals whose income has significantly increased or who have high profits during the crisis as a form of social solidarity, and use the increased tax revenue for disaster prevention, support for vulnerable groups, and unemployment response."

While the two major parties have added caveats such as 'within fiscal limits' and 'with precision' in their support, the Justice Party explained that all citizens who have suffered losses and damages must be compensated and supported 'without exception' and 'thoroughly.'

They also urged accelerating the promotion of a 'universal income insurance,' calling for the government’s goal of enrolling 21 million people by 2025 to be moved up to this year.

Floor leader Kang said, "There is no certainty when self-employed individuals, freelancers, platform workers, and other non-standard workers who are currently suffering will become eligible," and added, "Let them benefit from income insurance starting this year." She further stated, "We must immediately realize an income-based social insurance system that includes all citizens, extending beyond existing employment insurance to platform workers, freelancers, and the self-employed."

Regarding education, she argued that ultimately, the abolition of university entrance exams should be pursued.

Floor leader Kang mentioned, "We must reduce inequality gaps through education," and said, "Without dismantling the hierarchy of universities, we cannot eliminate academic elitism. University equalization is the path we must take."

She also noted that although the Serious Accident Punishment Act has been passed, it went through a difficult process even to be enacted, emphasizing, "There can be no exceptions to the application of the Labor Standards Act. We must move toward a society where anyone can form a labor union if they wish, and where differences in labor types do not lead to discrimination."

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