"Measures to Reduce Health Insurance Premiums Should Be Established to Avoid Burdening Low-Income Groups"

Sung Il-jong Urges Measures to Stabilize Food Prices
"Stockpiled Supplies Must Be Actively Released"
Also Conducted On-Site Inspection at Garak Market

Sung Il-jong, Chairman of the Policy Committee of the People Power Party, is attending the current issue review meeting held at the National Assembly on the 24th and delivering opening remarks. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

Amid difficult economic conditions such as high inflation and high interest rates, the People Power Party, which had previously called on companies to share the burden, has now demanded a reduction in health insurance premiums for low-income groups. In particular, they have requested the government to abolish health insurance premiums on automobiles. They also decided to promptly proceed with the release of stockpiled agricultural and livestock products to stabilize prices.

On the 24th, Seong Il-jong, chairman of the People Power Party Policy Committee, said at the National Assembly's current issues review meeting, "With the implementation of the second phase of health insurance premium reform starting this July, there is growing concern that the burden of health insurance premiums on the public will increase," urging the government to take measures to reduce premiums. Chairman Seong stated, "Considering the difficult economic situation such as rising prices, I hope a definite reduction plan will be established so that low-income households do not feel burdened by health insurance premiums." He also emphasized, "The imposition of health insurance premiums on automobiles, which have become a daily part of our lives, should be abolished."

Chairman Seong also called for measures to stabilize food prices. He said, "Price increases are threatening the daily lives of the people to the extent that nearly half of the monthly average disposable income of the bottom 20% income households is spent on food," and urged, "The government should release stockpiled goods as much as possible to minimize consumer anxiety and first control the rapidly rising food prices."

In this regard, the government has decided to release stockpiled agricultural products such as cabbage and onions starting as early as the end of this month. A government official said, "Normally, stockpiled cabbage and others are released to the market in August, but this year, considering the price situation, we decided to advance it by more than a month."

Members of the People Power Party's Special Committee on Price and Livelihood Stabilization are observing the fruit auction site at Garak Agricultural and Marine Products Wholesale Market in Songpa-gu, Seoul, on the 24th.
Photo by Kwon Hyun-ji

The People Power Party's Special Committee on Price and Livelihood Stabilization also visited the Garak Agricultural and Marine Products Wholesale Market in Seoul on the same day and announced measures to stabilize agricultural and marine product prices, including expanding the budget for discount coupon projects and increasing the rate of input tax credit.

Ryu Seong-geol, chairman of the special committee, told reporters after the on-site meeting, "We requested the government to continuously monitor the supply and demand trends of agricultural and food products, and we will consider expanding the budget for the agricultural and livestock discount coupon project, which was set at 78 billion won this year, next year." He added, "To establish a consumption base for domestic agricultural products, we will discuss with related ministries the expansion of the agricultural and food voucher pilot project, which supports households with incomes below 50% of the median income."

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