Yoon Seok-yeol Presents 'Overcoming COVID-19 and Preparing for the Future' as Top Priority

Proposed COVID-19 Response System Reform at New Year's Press Conference
Presented Plan to Reduce Self-Employed Burden with One-Third Rent
To Overcome Low Birthrate, 1 Million Won Paid to Parents for One Year per Child Born

Yoon Seok-yeol, the presidential candidate of the People Power Party, is answering questions from the press after holding a New Year's press conference on the direction of national governance at the Grandfather Factory Cafe in Seongdong-gu, Seoul, on the 11th. Photo by Yoon Dong-ju doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] Yoon Seok-yeol, the presidential candidate of the People Power Party, presented on the 11th the tasks for the next president as overcoming COVID-19, breaking the vicious cycle of low growth, low birthrate, and polarization, and overcoming the crisis of liberal democracy and market economy.

On the morning of the same day, Yoon identified the fundamental challenge facing South Korea as the "COVID-19 situation" during a New Year's press conference. He proposed the introduction of a "public policy fee" by reorganizing the COVID-19 response system, which had faced difficulties such as a shortage of hospital beds. The plan is to pay labor costs and training expenses required for the installation and operation of negative pressure rooms, intensive care units, and emergency rooms as public policy fees regardless of usage. This aims to fundamentally resolve the situation where hospitals worry about profitability during medical disasters. Furthermore, he presented a vision that this medical approach could lead to an expansion of the national health rights. Yoon also separately promised to expand the use of doctor helicopters (emergency rescue helicopters) on the same day.

In addition, Yoon proposed a new concept of "pain sharing" called the "rent sharing system" for small business owners who suffered damage during the quarantine process. Rent would be shared equally among landlords, tenants, and the government, with about 50 trillion won in public funds to be used for this purpose. Yoon explained, "Landlords, except for livelihood landlords, will reduce one-third of the rent for pain sharing, and 20% of that will be refunded by the government as a tax credit." Regarding tenants, he said, "For the remaining two-thirds of the rent, half of the rent and utility bills will be exempted from repayment after financial loans, and the remaining burden will be shared by the government through public funds."

As for overcoming the vicious cycle of low growth, low birthrate, and polarization, he proposed introducing a monthly parental allowance of 1 million won for one year and simultaneously raising economic growth potential. Yoon said, "To support citizens who want to have children, we will introduce a 'parental allowance' for all citizens," adding, "When a child is born, a fixed monthly allowance of 1 million won will be provided for one year." Other low birthrate measures include promoting the establishment of new ministries to address social issues such as children, families, and population. Previously, Yoon pledged to dismantle the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family. The plan is to create a virtuous cycle by improving growth rate, birthrate, and income distribution structure respectively.

Regarding the issue of growth, Yoon proposed a "fair innovation economy" as a growth strategy that shifts the economy from government-centered to private sector-centered, utilizing private creativity and market efficiency. He also reiterated plans to solve various problems through private-led supply methods by deregulation, which he has mentioned several times before.

During a Q&A session with reporters on the same day, Yoon avoided commenting on opposition party candidate unification, saying, "It is a matter for the people to decide," and "I don't think it's something I should comment on." While not denying the possibility of unification, he said he has no intention to lead it at this point.

Regarding the so-called generational encirclement strategy focusing on the 20s and 30s, which is considered Yoon's election strategy, he drew a clear line saying it is not an official election strategy. He said, "I have never said that I would target the 20s and 30s to win their votes," and added, "I emphasized the importance of creating quality and sustainable jobs, which is not only for the youth but for all generations in our society, as securing their jobs and housing is essential for their normal social advancement and aligns with the overall public interest."

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