Lee Jae-myung "10 Million Won Travel Expense if You Don't Go to University"... Opposition "Are They Benchmarking Heo Kyung-young?"

Lee Jae-myung "How about supporting 10 million won for world travel instead of going to university?"
Opposition "Populism without vision or responsibility", "Curious when he will surpass Heo Kyung-young"

Governor Lee Jae-myung of Gyeonggi Province. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] The opposition party has strongly criticized Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung, a leading presidential candidate within the ruling party, for proposing to support 10 million KRW for world travel expenses to young people who do not attend college. The opposition pointed out that Lee's policy is 'populism' aimed at winning the youth vote, criticizing, "Now even sweet-talking pledges start at a base unit of 10 million KRW."

Earlier, at Gyeonggi Provincial Office, Lee signed a business agreement to support high school graduate employment with Gyeonggi Superintendent of Education Lee Jae-jeong and Central Regional Employment and Labor Office Chief Lee Heon-su. He stated, "Which is more helpful for life and capacity development: attending college for four years or traveling around the world for four years?" He added, "If there is a belief that the results of building skills and efforts over four years can be no different or even better than the rewards for those who attended college for four years, then one would not choose a detour."

He continued, "It would be good for everyone to try what they want," and proposed, "How about supporting 10 million KRW for world travel instead of going to college?"

In response to Lee's remarks, the opposition described them as "pie in the sky" and criticized him. Deputy Spokesperson Park Ki-nyung issued a statement targeting Lee, saying, "He seems to be thinking only about spending taxes as if he has already been elected president," and criticized, "Is the only solution to youth employment issues and discrimination against high school graduates to pay for world travel expenses with taxes?"

He added, "It is completely unconvincing how the results of four years of college study and world travel can be compared," and sharply criticized, "He called college admission a 'detour'; does that mean college admission is a loophole?"

Park also pointed out, "Lee's proposals are all about spending taxes and increasing debt," and said, "He said he respects Heo Kyung-young, but is he trying to benchmark Heo Kyung-young even in his policies? It is worrisome if he treats the national budget like his own pocket money."

People Power Party lawmaker Yoon Hee-sook also expressed on Facebook, "I strongly agree with the topic of 'not discriminating wages based on academic background,' but Lee's slogan-like remark that 'those who work for four years and those who attend college for four years should be rewarded equally' seems either a serious self-contradiction or a lack of insight into the times, which is concerning."

She said, "If workers doing the same job at the same workplace have to accumulate four years of experience after graduating high school to earn the same pay as college graduates, that is discrimination," and criticized, "It is inconsistent to call for the abolition of academic discrimination while giving such examples."

She continued, "This is not the time for sensational bait like '10 million KRW for world travel for those who don't go to college,'" and directly criticized, "While blindly encouraging college attendance is a problem, 'giving 10 million KRW unconditionally to those who don't go to college' is also populism without vision or responsibility."

Photo by Lee Jun-seok, former Future United Party (currently People Power Party) Supreme Council Member, Facebook capture.

Former Future United Party (now People Power Party) Supreme Council member Lee Jun-seok also shared an article related to Lee on Facebook, saying, "Now even sweet-talking pledges start at a base unit of 10 million KRW. I wonder when he will surpass Heo Kyung-young," and added, "Some people who did not go to college may feel humiliated hearing this, and many will be appalled."

Meanwhile, another presidential candidate, former Democratic Party leader Lee Nak-yeon, recently proposed giving 30 million KRW each to military veterans who have completed mandatory service.

On the 5th, in a discussion on YouTube channel 'Lee Nak-yeon TV,' the former leader said, "I hope that conscripted men receive about 30 million KRW as social starting funds when they are discharged," and suggested, "How about arranging military service to be helpful in life by assigning them to units that can assist in the fields they want to advance in after discharge?"

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