Lee Jae-myung: "100,000 Won Support Per Home Treatment Patient... Establishment of Damage Relief Special Committee" (Comprehensive)

Lee Jae-myung: "100,000 Won Per Person for COVID Home Treatment"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Koo Chae-eun] Lee Jae-myung, the presidential candidate of the Democratic Party of Korea, announced on the 21st, "We will provide an additional support fund of 100,000 KRW per person for COVID-19 home treatment patients and, if elected, will ease social distancing measures starting March 10." He also stated, "We will establish the 'COVID-19 Damage Emergency Relief Special Committee,' a Roosevelt-style rapid response organization, to respond swiftly and will consider abolishing the youth quarantine pass."

With 16 days remaining until the presidential election and his support rate remaining low, Lee emphasized a policy stance differentiated from the current government, judging that the rapid spread of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 could become a variable in public sentiment for the election.

On the same day, Lee held an emergency press conference at the Democratic Party headquarters in Yeouido and said, "We will provide an additional support fund of 100,000 KRW to cover costs such as medicine purchases for home treatment patients." He also announced that if elected, social distancing measures would be drastically eased starting March 10, the day after the election. Regarding this, he added, "Although theoretically there is no official authority before inauguration, practical authority will arise, so through consultation with the incumbent president, it can be implemented by the incoming government as the responsibility of the president-elect."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Lee emphasized the need for extraordinary measures to overcome the livelihood crisis caused by COVID-19. Accordingly, he declared the launch of an 'Economic Booster Shot Plan.' First, Lee said that his first directive immediately after election would be to establish the 'COVID-19 Damage Emergency Relief Special Committee.' Through a large-scale supplementary budget or emergency financial orders, the government plans to fully take responsibility for uncompensated damages estimated at 40 to 50 trillion KRW. He also revealed plans for the government to adjust debts and implement a credit amnesty for those who have become credit delinquents due to economic difficulties caused by COVID-19. Lee officially urged the government to promptly proceed, saying, "Extension of loan maturity and repayment deferral for small business owners and self-employed individuals is an imminent crisis next month."

Lee also mentioned easing social distancing and improving the Ministry of Education's 'March full reopening guidelines.' He requested the government, saying, "Extending business restrictions only until 10 p.m. is insufficient. If the number of people gathering cannot be increased, please allow those who have received the third vaccine dose to stay until midnight." Lee stated, "The full reopening in March and the recommendation for testing at least twice a week continue to cause anxiety and confusion among parents and school staff," and insisted, "For the month of March, remote classes should be conducted concurrently." He further emphasized the need to consider abolishing the controversial youth quarantine pass.

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