[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] As the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) continues, the ruling party is raising the need to prepare an additional supplementary budget (supplementary budget), and the opposition party, which had criticized it as "wasting taxpayers' money," has also turned around saying it will "cooperate with the supplementary budget." This appears to be due to the mass outbreak of confirmed cases in the Daegu-Gyeongbuk (TK) region, where the support base is strong.
Hwang Kyo-ahn, leader of the United Future Party, stated in an official position on the 21st, "Whether it is contingency funds or a supplementary budget, the United Future Party is ready to cooperate in matters to protect the lives and safety of the people," and added, "We will put our heads together with the ruling party, focusing on Daegu and Gyeongbuk, where support is most urgently needed," expressing his intention to cooperate with the supplementary budget.
Earlier that morning, during an election campaign in Nakwon-dong, Jongno, he told reporters, "A supplementary budget should be made where necessary," and then issued another official statement emphasizing his stance on cooperating with the supplementary budget. Hwang said, "The United Future Party has promised bipartisan cooperation, and that resolve remains unwavering," adding, "We will devise all measures at the National Assembly level, including budget and legislation."
Lee Chang-soo, spokesperson for the United Future Party, also stated in a commentary on the 22nd, "All financial support, including contingency funds and supplementary budgets, must be promoted to protect the lives and safety of the people," and added, "All ministries must step up to overcome the Wuhan pneumonia."
Until the 20th, they warned against pouring taxpayers' money under the pretext of COVID-19, but their position changed progressively within a day. On the 20th, at the Supreme Council meeting, Hwang said that it was not COVID-19 but the government's economic policy that caused the economic crisis, and stated, "If you are thinking of pouring taxpayers' money again under the pretext of Wuhan pneumonia, stop it immediately."
However, from that day on, as confirmed cases surged in the Daegu area, it became burdensome for the United Future Party to maintain its opposition to the supplementary budget. Daegu is a stronghold of the United Future Party, but with the general election approaching, COVID-19 has emerged as a critical issue that could affect the election. Kim Boo-kyum, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea (Daegu Suseong-gap), also criticized Hwang's "taxpayer money" remarks, saying, "Wasn't TK the United Future Party's stronghold?"
However, while the United Future Party is cooperating with the ruling party on the supplementary budget, it continues to hold critical views on the government and ruling party's COVID-19 response. Hwang said, "I once again urge President Moon Jae-in to immediately strengthen the entry restrictions on foreigners who have visited all regions of China," adding, "We must no longer hesitate or delay." Lee, the spokesperson, also criticized in his commentary, "Not only experts but also the public have persistently called for an 'expansion of the ban on Chinese entry,' but it is being treated like a taboo word and not even mentioned," and added, "Fundamental measures, including expanding entry bans, must be prepared."
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