Kim Young-jong, Mayor of Jongno-gu and Chairman of the Seoul Metropolitan Council of District Mayors, announced the 'Urgent Financial Support Appeal' at Seoul City Hall on the 17th.
[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] The Seoul Metropolitan Council of District Mayors (Chairman Kim Young-jong, Mayor of Jongno-gu) welcomed the ‘Emergency Living Expense Support Measures for Disasters’ announced by the Seoul Metropolitan Government on the 18th and urged the government to make a decisive move on ‘emergency financial support.’
With Seoul’s announcement of emergency living expense support, a total of 1,177,000 households with median income at or below 100% will receive support ranging from 300,000 to a maximum of 500,000 KRW.
This is a proactive policy that encourages citizens to protect themselves from disasters and gives them the strength and courage to overcome crises.
In the current situation where economic activities have decreased and economic sentiment has contracted due to the spread of community infections, emergency financial support that citizens can directly feel is like rain in a drought.
In particular, it will be a precious opportunity for those whose livelihoods have become difficult due to COVID-19 to sustain their lives, and it is also expected to have the effect of revitalizing the local economy.
Kim Young-jong, Mayor of Jongno-gu and Chairman of the Seoul Metropolitan Council of District Mayors, stated, “This emergency living expense support is very meaningful as a practical livelihood support measure that fills the blind spots of existing systems. However, uncoordinated policy implementation by local governments may cause discrimination between regions depending on their financial circumstances,” adding, “We strongly urge the central government to establish a standard emergency financial support plan for disaster recovery that protects all citizens regardless of their place of residence.”
At the Seoul Metropolitan Council of District Mayors meeting held on the 17th, initiated by Jung Won-oh, Mayor of Seongdong-gu, a ‘Statement Urging the Implementation of Emergency Financial Support for Overcoming the COVID-19 Disaster’ was announced at Seoul City Hall, demanding expanded emergency financial support so that all citizens can receive equal benefits without discrimination based on local government financial conditions.
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Welcoming Seoul’s Emergency Living Expense Support Measures and Urging the Government’s Decisive Emergency Financial Support
Disasters confront everyone, but they are never equal before them. The socially vulnerable tend to have weaker protective shields to safeguard themselves. In disaster situations, it is essential for citizens to have a shield that preserves their livelihoods and protects them from disaster risks.
Today’s announced ‘Seoul Emergency Living Expense Support Measures’ is a proactive policy that encourages citizens to protect themselves from disasters and gives them the strength and courage to overcome crises. Through this policy, a total of 1,177,000 households with median income at or below 100% will receive support ranging from 300,000 to 500,000 KRW.
In the current situation where economic activities have decreased and economic sentiment has contracted due to the spread of community infections, emergency financial support that citizens can directly feel is like rain in a drought. Especially for those whose livelihoods have become difficult due to COVID-19, it will be an invaluable opportunity to sustain their lives.
Furthermore, it is expected to breathe new life into the local economy and serve as a stepping stone to overcome the national crisis. It is also very meaningful as a practical livelihood support measure that fills the blind spots of existing support systems. This is highly encouraging, and we deeply welcome and appreciate the earlier decisive action taken.
However, uncoordinated policy implementation by local governments may cause discrimination between regions depending on their financial circumstances. Measures must be established to guarantee equal benefits for all citizens. We urge the central government to establish a standard emergency financial support plan for disaster recovery so that all citizens can be protected and their safety respected regardless of their place of residence.
March 18, 2020
Seoul Metropolitan Council of District Mayors
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