Confused Disaster Relief Fund

Decision Made to Pay Bottom 80% Income Group
Ruling Party Calls for "Expansion of Eligibility"...Clashes with Government

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeon Jin-young] The policy to provide disaster relief funds only to the bottom 80% income group, which had passed the Cabinet meeting, is shifting towards 'universal payment' due to strong voices within the ruling party. A complicated process involving party-government consultations and standing committee reviews is inevitably expected again.

Yoon Ho-jung, the floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is attending the policy coordination meeting held at the National Assembly on the 8th and delivering an opening remark. Photo by Yoon Dong-ju doso7@

On the morning of the 8th, Yoon Ho-jung, the floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, stated at a policy coordination meeting held at the National Assembly, "The second supplementary budget was made to alleviate the sense of alienation and deprivation felt by the majority of the people," indicating that the policy should shift from selective payment to the bottom 80% to universal payment. The day before, the Democratic Party held a policy members' meeting and debated the scope and method of disaster relief fund payments. Considering the public's 'sense of alienation,' many opinions favored universal payment or at least payment to 90% of the population. However, Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum appeared on the radio that day and said, "Those who need help the most in this supplementary budget should be prioritized," expressing the intention to maintain the existing 80% plan, which is expected to cause difficulties in future party-government negotiations.

As a compromise, there is also discussion about maintaining selective payment but expanding the payment scope. During the process of adjusting fairness issues such as health insurance premiums for workplace and regional subscribers and dual-income couples, the payment scope may be adjusted to around 90%. Additional discussions on the timing of payments are also expected in connection with the spread of COVID-19.

The 'bottom 80% income' plan was agreed upon by the party and government on the 29th of last month and was approved by President Moon Jae-in at the Cabinet meeting on the 1st. Since then, opinions within the Democratic Party favoring universal payment have not subsided, raising the possibility of changes.

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