"‘Nobi’ Living on Subsidies"... Controversy Over National Support Fund Marred by Hatred and Discontent

Income Support Payments Begin for Bottom 88%
6 out of 10 Eligible Recipients Received Funds, but Controversy Grows
Class Labels 'Nobi' and 'Pyeongmin' Emerge Over Eligibility
"XX Doing Somersaults After Receiving Support" Mocked
Experts Say "Inconsistent Policy Undermines Trust"
"Need Clear Payment Criteria That Citizens Can Accept"

On the morning of the 13th, when the offline application process for the COVID-19 Mutual Aid National Support Fund began, a citizen is entering a community center in Seoul. / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] "It's painful enough to be poor, but if you receive the National Support Fund, you're called a commoner or a slave."

Since the distribution of the 'COVID-19 Coexistence National Support Fund' (National Support Fund) began on the 6th, more than half of the eligible recipients have received it, but controversies surrounding it have not ceased. While appeals from those excluded from the payment target have surged, a so-called 'National Status Chart' classifying citizens receiving the support as 'commoners' and 'slaves' has even appeared. Experts advised that the payment criteria should first be established in a way that the public can accept.

The National Support Fund is a plan to provide 250,000 KRW per person based on households in the bottom 88% of income (excluding the top 12% of income households). According to the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, about 26,907,000 people applied for payment as of the 10th, five days after online applications first started on the 6th. This accounts for 62.2% of the 43.26 million eligible recipients, meaning 6 out of 10 eligible people have already received the National Support Fund.

However, as interest in the National Support Fund grows, so do controversies. First, the payment criterion of the 'bottom 88%' became an issue. Because the ambiguous boundary of the bottom 88% divided recipients and those excluded, appeals from those who were excluded from receiving the support poured in. As of 6 p.m. on the 9th, about 54,000 cumulative appeals had been submitted to the online National Petition Board.

Regarding this, Jeon Hyun-hee, Chairperson of the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission, explained in an interview on MBC Radio's 'Kim Jong-bae's Focus' on the 10th, "Most of the reasons for appeals are cases asking for reconsideration due to changes in family members or recent income reductions."

In some online communities, a so-called 'class chart' distinguishing people's status according to the criteria for the National Support Fund payment even appeared. / Photo by Internet homepage capture

Conflicts over the payment target expanded into hatred toward the poor. On the 8th, a chart titled "Disaster Support Fund Tier Chart" was shared on an online community, becoming a hot topic among netizens.

The core of this chart was to distinguish between those eligible for the National Support Fund and those excluded, dividing them into so-called 'classes.'

Those excluded were divided into Seonggol (Sacred Bone) for the top 3% of households exceeding the property tax base, Jingol (True Bone) for the top 7% exceeding the financial income standard, and 6-dogup to 4-dogup for the top 12% exceeding the health insurance premium standard, who were excluded from the support fund. Meanwhile, households in the bottom 88% or below, who were eligible, were classified as commoners and slaves.

Controversy also arose when Noel (21, real name Jang Yong-jun), a rapper and son of People Power Party lawmaker Jang Je-won, made remarks that seemed to mock the recipients. On the 11th, Noel posted on Instagram a screenshot of a harsh comment on his new album, claiming, "Those who receive the disaster support fund and are so happy they do somersaults act tough on the internet."

Rapper 'Noel,' the son of Jang Je-won, a member of the People Power Party, criticized netizens who criticized his new song by calling them "guys who do somersaults in the air out of joy when they receive disaster relief funds." / Photo by Internet homepage capture

Given the situation, citizens expressed frustration. There are criticisms that the National Support Fund, which should help households struggling due to the COVID-19 pandemic and encourage the public, has instead become a source of division in civil society.

A man in his 20s, A, who recently received the National Support Fund, said, "I was satisfied because I could supplement my living expenses with the support fund when even bus and taxi fares felt precious. But some friends complained that they couldn't receive it because their parents are wealthy." He added, "This incident seems to have clearly revealed the 'class differences' that had been hidden until now, which is regrettable."

Another office worker, B (31), said, "I think people have become more sensitive because recipients and non-recipients are divided by the 88% income boundary. Life must be just as tough at 87% income as at 88%, so it doesn't make sense that they can't receive 250,000 KRW." He argued, "If that's the case, it would have been better to either provide it universally to all citizens or to support only the truly needy more substantially."

Experts pointed out that the biggest cause of controversy is the unclear purpose and principles of government financial support policies.

Professor Kim Taegi of Dankook University's Department of Economics said, "As the disaster support fund has effectively reached its fifth round in the form of the National Support Fund, the policy's purpose and principles have become blurred. The income criteria for eligible households have continuously changed, and the priority recipients have also shifted." He explained, "Because the policy lost consistency, citizens cannot accept it. Those excluded from the payment criteria feel as if they have suffered a loss rather than understanding the situation."

He added, "To restore trust, the government must first establish payment criteria that all citizens can accept and then implement a consistent policy."

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