Iyangsu: "Cutting subsidies that just fill stomachs, let's use them for flood recovery and scientific development"

Interview with Yeo, Chief Deputy Floor Leader, on SBS Radio
"Yoon's remark on 'interest cartel' is common sense and natural"

Lee Yang-su, the senior deputy floor leader of the People Power Party, rebutted the opposition party's criticism of President Yoon Seok-yeol's remark that "political subsidies for interest cartels should be cut and the funds redirected to flood recovery." He called it "a very common-sense and obvious statement."

In an interview with SBS Radio's 'Kim Tae-hyun's Political Show' on the 20th, Lee said, "The subsidies that are used inappropriately, such as those with opaque accounting in subsidy execution, overseas trips, and being divided up to fatten their own pockets, should be cut and used for flood recovery or scientific development."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

He stated, "It is a very obvious matter, but the opposition party suddenly reacts strongly because during the Moon Jae-in administration, there were cases where subsidy budgets were excessively given to civic groups or those close to them, so they seem to be overreacting."

When asked, "Does this mean that the subsidy cuts for flood recovery costs incurred this year will not be applied this year but rather in next year’s or the year after’s budget?" Lee replied, "Yes," adding, "Since the budgets already disbursed cannot be cut or reclaimed, the efforts this year will be very partial. It is important to abolish subsidies that were inappropriately used when finalizing the budget from next year onward in the long term."

He continued, "When finalizing next year’s budget at the end of this year, all subsidies that were inappropriately used should be abolished, and a system should be established to use funds urgently in disaster situations and other critical areas."

He also said, "Our country’s civic groups continue to have incidents every year. There have been many cases where funds given by the state for comfort women were misappropriated by organizations that former lawmaker Yoon Mi-hyang was involved with," explaining, "President Yoon’s remarks came from the intention to establish a system that comprehensively manages effectiveness by thoroughly examining project purposes and eligibility requirements."

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