Sim Sang-jung: "Lee Jae-myung abandoned basic income, then picked it up again... zigzagging behavior"

Sim Sang-jung, a member of the Justice Party, is speaking at the party members' meeting held at the National Assembly on the 6th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Choyoung] Sim Sang-jung, a member of the Justice Party, criticized Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung's basic income pledge announced on the 22nd, saying, "Basic income is something to be approached carefully with a long-term perspective, not a light policy that can be discarded and picked up again just because approval ratings change."

In a post on her Facebook page that day, Sim said, "There will be a separate opportunity to discuss the basic income details presented by candidate Lee Jae-myung today, but I want to say a word about the erratic zigzagging on a core pledge," expressing her concerns.

She pointed out, "I seriously doubt whether Governor Lee has truly treated 'basic income' as his representative policy," adding, "If basic income was suddenly set aside overnight and then picked up again just to regain support, it will be difficult for the public to trust that it can be faithfully implemented even if he comes to power."

She continued, "From the beginning, I have proposed that we carefully consider basic income as a future vision for our society, but for now, taking into account COVID-19 and employment instability, we should start with 'categorical basic income' for youth and farmers," and reminded, "At the same time, I have suggested guaranteeing basic living standards for all working citizens by resolving employment insecurity through a job guarantee system."

She then urged, "I hope discussions on a new social security system to live through the pandemic, climate crisis, and the era of industrial transformation such as platforms will be conducted more responsibly."

Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party's presidential primary candidate and governor of Gyeonggi Province, is holding a policy pledge press conference via video at the National Assembly Members' Office Building video conference room on the 22nd.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Earlier that day, Governor Lee held a press conference at the National Assembly Communication Office and pledged, "During the next government’s term, we will provide basic income of 2 million KRW per year to youth and 1 million KRW to all other citizens nationwide."

He emphasized, "There will be economic effects such as income redistribution, alleviation of income polarization, stigma elimination, and enhancement of labor motivation," adding, "Just as the medical insurance system, which was imperfectly established under the Park Chung-hee regime over 40 years ago, has now developed into the best welfare system, the Korean-style basic income will become a model attracting global attention."

Regarding criticisms from primary election competitors about 'retreating on basic income,' he responded, "I am not stubborn. I have become much more flexible," and rebutted, "Changing one’s stance is slander. It is correcting policies to make them better."

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