Park Seonghun "Proposes Hope Gift Certificates and Children's Safety Insurance"… Lee Eonju "Cash is Better"

Policy Solution Perspectives Differ from Small Business Measures to Children's Safety Measures

[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] In the People Power Party's mayoral debate for Busan, candidates Park Seong-hoon and Lee Eon-ju clashed over policy issues ranging from COVID-19 support measures for small business owners to children's safety insurance. While Park proposed policy initiatives such as the 'Busan Hope Gift Certificate' and 'Children's Safety Insurance,' Lee emphasized the efficiency of direct cash support, creating a contrast between the two.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

During the People Power Party's Busan mayoral debate held at Busan MBC on the 22nd, the two candidates revealed differing approaches to policy issues. Park proposed the Busan Hope Gift Certificate related to COVID-19. He introduced, "We will invest about 1 trillion won to purchase gift certificates at 90% of their face value, then sell them to citizens at 50% of the price, allowing citizens to use these gift certificates starting next year." Citizens can use the gift certificates they purchased in advance at half price next year, and small business owners can secure 90% of their sales revenue in advance.

Park said, "Previously, when 100 million won was given to small business owners with sales under 300 million won in Busan, it cost 185.6 billion won," adding, "The Hope Gift Certificate, which can generate up to 1 billion won in sales based on last year's sales, can expect a multiplier effect through sales." He explained, "It requires funding of about 300 to 400 billion won," and added, "Considering the multiplier effect, we can return to a post-COVID state."

Lee responded by saying, "Cash is better," and criticized, "This seems like a verbal gift certificate, so even if discounted, I doubt it will be widely used." He questioned, "I wonder if consumers will actually buy those gift certificates." Lee promised to provide "up to 1 million won monthly until the end of COVID-19."

Park's proposal for a children's safety insurance system also became a topic of debate. Park explained, "We will invest 500,000 to 1 million won per child to enroll them in group insurance," adding, "As group insurance, when children are exposed to accidents, the individual burden can be heavy, but enrolling as a group allows for compensation." He estimated the funding required to be around 100 to 200 billion won.

Lee countered, "Instead of spending money on insurance, it is a fundamental solution to equip kindergartens with helpers or AI-based life safety monitoring systems." He argued that it is better to invest that money in accident prevention rather than insurance.

Meanwhile, during the debate, Lee referred to Park as "seemingly competent" and said, "If I do well, I hope people like Park will help me." In response, Park asked, "If I become mayor, will you help me?" Lee replied, "I will help as much as I can," adding, "I can help politically rather than practically."

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