[Agyeong Poll] Disaster Relief Fund "Except for Upper Class" 48% Support

The Most Opposition to Nationwide Payments Comes from People in Their 20s

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Cheol-eung] Public opinion favoring the exclusion of high-income and high-asset groups from disaster relief payments appears to outweigh support for payments to the entire population.

In response to the question, "The Ministry of Economy and Finance is considering a plan to exclude the top 20-30% income earners from receiving disaster relief payments rather than distributing them to all citizens. What do you think?" 48.2% of citizens answered, "It is a well-made decision because giving to high-income groups is inappropriate from the perspective of fiscal soundness." On the other hand, 40.3% responded that "disaster relief payments are meant as consolation money, so excluding groups goes against fairness and the purpose of economic revitalization."

By age group, the 18-29 age group showed the highest approval for the "well-made decision" at 52.7%, which is more negative toward universal payments than those in their 60s (50.2%) or 70 and older (51.4%). Conversely, those in their 30s and 40s showed slightly higher support for payments to all citizens. By political party support, about 48% of Democratic Party supporters agreed with the Ministry of Economy and Finance’s stance to exclude the upper class, while supporters of the People Power Party were evenly split.

The Democratic Party is negotiating with the government under the principle of universal payments, but the Ministry of Economy and Finance remains firm. On the 25th, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance Hong Nam-ki appeared before the National Assembly and stated, "Given economic and fiscal conditions, it is inappropriate to provide relief payments to the highest income and asset groups," emphasizing, "It is more reasonable to use that money to provide additional support to small business owners and self-employed people who are facing greater difficulties."

Among presidential candidates, there is also a debate over the issue. Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung argued, "Excluding some high-income earners from the benefits of national policy contradicts the Democratic Party’s platform and policies, constitutes reverse discrimination against high-income earners, and damages national solidarity in times of crisis." On the other hand, former Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun criticized, "The argument to give disaster relief payments equally to all citizens is not very persuasive unless it is to rationalize basic income theory," calling it "populism trapped in political logic."

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