"I Was a Slave After All"... Bitter Citizens React to the Appearance of the 'Disaster Relief Fund Class Chart'

'Disaster Relief Fund Class Chart' Dividing Royal Blood and Commoners Appears
Anti-Corruption Commission: "54,000 Objections Flood in Four Days for National Support Fund"
Amid Complaints about Disaster Relief Fund... Ruling Party: "Expanding Coverage from 88% to 90%"

Recently, a 'Disaster Relief Fund Identity Hierarchy Chart' has appeared on an online community, attracting attention. Photo by Online Community Screenshot.

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] "I was happy to receive the disaster relief fund, but in the end, I was just a 'commoner'."

As applications for the 'COVID-19 Coexistence National Support Fund,' which provides 250,000 KRW per person to the bottom 88% of income earners, have begun, an online satirical 'Disaster Relief Fund Social Class Chart' has attracted attention. The chart, which parodies the Golpum system of the Silla Dynasty, classifies recipients of the disaster relief fund as either 'commoners' or 'nobi' (slaves).

Given this situation, some voices of self-mockery saying "I was a nobi" have emerged. In particular, some citizens pointed out that conflicts between social classes have intensified since the COVID-19 pandemic. As the controversy grew, the ruling party announced plans to expand the eligibility to the bottom 90%. Experts, however, warned that even with an expanded eligibility, debates over fairness would continue.

Recently, a post titled 'Disaster Relief Fund Tier Chart' was uploaded on an online community. The author introduced five social classes related to the national support fund distribution: ▲Seonggol (top 3%) ▲Jingol (top 7%) ▲Yukdupum (top 12%) ▲Commoners (top 90%) ▲Nobi (top 100%).

Those exceeding the property tax base and financial income and health insurance premium criteria belong to the top 3% called 'Seonggol.' Those exceeding financial income and health insurance premium criteria are likened to 'Jingol,' and those exceeding only the health insurance premium criteria are compared to 'Yukdupum.' People receiving the disaster relief fund are classified as 'Commoners' (top 90%, receiving the fund) or 'Nobi' (top 100%, receiving the fund plus an additional 100,000 KRW). The classes are divided based on whether or not they receive the disaster relief fund.

An emergency disaster relief fund usage notice is posted at a store in a traditional market in Mapo-gu, Seoul. The photo is unrelated to specific expressions in the article. [Image source=Yonhap News]

In this context, some citizens pointed out that the selective criteria for the disaster relief fund are causing conflicts between social classes.

Office worker Kim (27) said, "The disaster relief fund should have been given to all citizens. If not, it should have been focused on self-employed people or small business owners hit hard by COVID-19, but dividing it awkwardly by the bottom 88% seems to have caused problems." He added, "Also, people who earned a lot probably paid more taxes. Those who paid a lot but did not receive support might feel empty."

Meanwhile, some online communities have seen debates between those who receive the disaster relief fund and those who do not. Those in the top 12% of income say, "It's sad not to receive the disaster relief fund," while those in the bottom 88% respond, "Are you bragging about living well?"

However, some among those excluded from the eligibility expressed dissatisfaction, saying they do not understand why they fall into the top 12%. Since the criteria are based on health insurance premiums, which do not promptly reflect income changes but rather property, concerns about fairness have been raised.

A netizen is raising an issue of fairness regarding the criteria for disaster relief fund distribution. Photo by Mamcafe (screen capture).

One netizen posted on an online community, "I am part of a two-person household with no house or car. Our annual income is 34.3 million KRW, and we are regional health insurance subscribers. Do you think this household looks wealthy?" He added, "We pay 210,000 KRW monthly for regional health insurance. And this household is in the top 12% in South Korea. Can you understand that?"

Regarding this, the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission (ACRC) reported that over 50,000 appeals regarding the national support fund were filed within four days. On the 10th, ACRC Chairperson Jeon Hyun-hee appeared on MBC Radio's 'Kim Jong-bae's Focus' and said, "We opened an appeal window on the ACRC's National Petition Board on the 6th, and by 6 p.m. yesterday, about 54,000 cases were received," adding, "This is a large number, equivalent to 13,000 cases per day."

As the fairness controversy grew, the ruling party expressed intentions to expand the eligibility. Park Wan-joo, Policy Committee Chair of the Democratic Party of Korea, said on YTN Radio's 'Hwang Bo-seon's Morning Start,' "There is inevitably a lot of dissatisfaction among those who do not receive the fund," and "Both the party and the government are considering ways to provide relief through appeals."

He continued, "It would be better if the eligibility is raised slightly above 88%, so that about 90% of people can benefit." However, since the announcement to expand eligibility came late and no convincing criteria were presented, dissatisfaction among the top 10% is expected to continue.

Experts pointed out that even if the eligibility is expanded to the bottom 90%, debates over fairness will persist.

Professor Kim Taegi of Dankook University's Department of Economics said, "There is no clear principle regarding the disaster relief fund eligibility, so the criteria keep changing from 88% to 90%," adding, "Even if the eligibility is expanded to 90%, fairness issues will continue. It seems the government is distributing the fund more with election considerations in mind rather than supporting those harmed by COVID-19."

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