Sim Sang-jung Targets ‘Lee Disaster Relief Fund’... "Taxes Are Not a Honey Pot"

Sim Sang-jung, the Justice Party presidential candidate, speaking (Photo by Yonhap News)

[Asia Economy Reporter Ryu Tae-min] Sim Sang-jung, the presidential candidate of the Justice Party, criticized the Democratic Party of Korea's candidate Lee Jae-myung's plan to provide disaster relief funds to all citizens on the 31st.

In her remarks at the Justice Party National Committee meeting that day, Candidate Sim said, "The people's taxes are not a honey pot for the ruling party to dip into for political gain," adding, "The ruling party's presidential candidate should talk about 'responsibility,' not 'comfort.'"

Candidate Sim stated, "Democratic Party presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung suddenly mentioned providing 1 million won per person in disaster relief funds. Disaster relief funds cannot be a ruling party's election strategy," and added, "What is needed now is to expand medical personnel and public healthcare, provide compensation for losses and sickness benefits, and build a public healthcare and quarantine system to successfully prepare for the With-Corona era."

Earlier, on the 29th, Candidate Lee told reporters, "At the beginning of COVID-19, I mentioned that household support, so-called disaster relief funds or disaster basic income, would be at least 1 million won per person," and said, "However, the amount paid so far is ridiculously low compared to other countries relative to GDP. We will push for nationwide disaster relief fund payments."

Meanwhile, the Justice Party held a National Committee meeting in Jung-gu, Seoul, on the same day and unanimously approved Representative Sim as the presidential candidate. Candidate Sim's side plans to register as a preliminary presidential candidate with the National Election Commission on November 1.

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