Lee Jae-myung to Yoon, who opposes 'Nationwide Disaster Relief Fund': "Is it right for a rich country to have poor citizens?"

Yoon: "COVID-19 Damage Compensation Should Be Approached from a Loss Compensation Perspective... Full Payment Below a Certain Percentage Is Not Acceptable"
Lee: "Seems Unaware of the Difference Between Loss Compensation and Disaster Relief Payments"

Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party presidential candidate (right), Yoon Seok-youl, the People Power Party presidential candidate (left) [Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoon Seul-gi] The presidential candidates from both ruling and opposition parties clashed over the 'nationwide disaster relief fund.' Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party presidential candidate, criticized Yoon Seok-youl, the People Power Party presidential candidate who opposes the nationwide disaster relief fund, saying, "It seems you do not clearly understand the difference between loss compensation and disaster relief payments."

On the 7th, Lee posted on his Facebook under the title "Candidate Yoon Seok-youl, a wealthy country but poor citizens?is this fair?" stating, "Loss compensation and disaster relief funds have different natures."

Earlier, on the morning of the 6th, Yoon visited Garak Market in Songpa-gu, Seoul, as his first schedule after being nominated as a candidate. He expressed opposition to the nationwide disaster relief fund by saying, "Compensation for COVID-19 damages to small business owners and self-employed individuals should be approached from the perspective of loss compensation," and "It should not be approached as if paying everyone below a certain percentage."

Lee then argued, "Loss compensation is to compensate for damages caused by government administrative orders," and "It is only right to provide sufficient and appropriate support to small business owners and self-employed individuals who have suffered losses."

Regarding the disaster relief fund, Lee said, "While it also serves to comfort citizens suffering from the COVID-19 pandemic, it is an economic policy supporting the sales of small business owners and self-employed individuals," adding, "Since it is an economic policy, not a relief policy, there is no need or reason to select recipients."

He further added, "For self-employed individuals and small business owners, both direct support and sales support policies are necessary."

Lee also explained, "Currently, our country has an abnormally high household debt ratio and one of the lowest national debt ratios worldwide. This is because public transfer income, that is, government household support, has been very insufficient compared to other countries," and "The country is becoming wealthy, but citizens are closing their wallets due to lack of spending capacity."

Addressing candidate Yoon, Lee said, "The state exists for the people. If there is a famine and people are starving, what use is it to stockpile rice in government granaries without helping?" He urged, "Please do not think of opposing the nationwide disaster relief fund only in terms of party interests; please reconsider deeply from the citizens' perspective."

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