Yeosu Disaster Relief Fund Payment Results from Continuous Demands by Civic Groups and City Council

Published 03 Jan.2022 16:34(KST)

Citizen Coalition Urges Mayor Kwon Oh-bong of Yeosu to Apologize and Stop Exploiting Opposition in Elections

<em class="highlight">Yeosu Disaster Relief Fund Payment Results from Continuous Demands by Civic Groups and City Council</em>

[Yeosu=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Sim Kyung-taek] Kwon Oh-bong, mayor of Yeosu City, Jeollanam-do, announced that he will provide 200,000 KRW of COVID-19 daily recovery support funds to all citizens. In response, the Yeosu Citizens' Association stated, “The Yeosu Disaster Basic Income is the result of continuous demands from civic groups and the city council. Mayor Kwon Oh-bong, who consistently opposed the payment, should apologize and not exploit it for election purposes.”

On the 3rd, the Yeosu Citizens' Association pointed out in a statement, “Mayor Kwon Oh-bong finally announced the second payment of the Yeosu Disaster Basic Income only after the strong and continuous demands from civic groups and the city council, and after Gwangyang City and Suncheon City had already made payments. This is a typical case of delayed administration.”

The association emphasized, “Since January last year, Yeosu civic groups have urged Yeosu City to prepare for the second payment in consultation with the Yeosu City Council and civil society. The Yeosu City Council has also actively demanded the second disaster basic income payment. However, Mayor Kwon Oh-bong continuously opposed the demands from the city council and civil society, neglecting the suffering and difficulties of citizens under the precondition of observing the support effects and economic recovery trends until the end of last year.”

In particular, they stated, “Despite Yeosu City having the highest financial independence rate in Jeollanam-do and Jeollabuk-do for three consecutive years, having several billion won left after spending, and collecting more local taxes, thus having sufficient capacity to make early payments, the delay in payment is the responsibility of Mayor Kwon Oh-bong. Mayor Kwon should first apologize to the citizens for the continuous opposition and delayed payment. If he tries to exploit this payment for the local elections in June this year, he will face the judgment of the citizens.”

Meanwhile, on the 27th of last month, Mayor Kwon Oh-bong announced, “To provide some support to citizens exhausted by COVID-19, we will pay 200,000 KRW per person to all citizens as COVID-19 daily recovery support funds.”