Woo Won-sik "Retroactive Application of Loss Compensation Must Be Enforced This Month... The Owner of the Budget Is the People"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Cheol-eung] Woo Won-sik, a member of the Democratic Party and a candidate for the next party leadership, has called for the retroactive application of COVID-19 loss compensation.

On the 12th, Woo stated on Facebook, "I will definitely push for the retroactive application of loss compensation," adding, "The special committee on COVID-19 loss compensation must be immediately activated in the April National Assembly. The People Power Party has also decided this as a party stance. The Justice Party has repeatedly proposed the special committee. The ruling party cannot just stand by."

He continued, "Through the special committee, let's pass a bill containing the principle of retroactive application within April. Details such as sales scale and support methods should be carefully refined by the special committee."

Woo said, "Retroactive application is the state repaying the debt it owes to its people," and added, "If I am criticized for worsening fiscal soundness while repaying the debt owed to the people, I will take all that criticism."

Regarding the controversy over fiscal capacity, he dismissed it as "idle talk." He also sharply questioned, "Is the budget not a bottomless well? Is the patience of the people a bottomless well?"

Woo stated, "According to a survey conducted by self-employed organizations, the average sales of self-employed businesses have decreased by 53%, and 45% are even considering closure," adding, "It is unreasonable to force the people who gave up their livelihoods cooperating with quarantine measures to endure any longer. What kind of situation is it to push the frontline of people's livelihoods confronting COVID-19 without any weapons?"

He went on, "If bureaucrats decide not to act, they can come up with a hundred reasons. The crisis of people's livelihoods and the crisis of the Democratic Party can only be overcome by trusting the people and working together. I emphasize again: the owners of the budget are the people."

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