'Ticketing Policy' and 'Inevitable Chaos'... Government's 'Disaster Basic Income' Severely Criticized by Future United Party

Park Hyung-jun, Co-Chairman of the United Future Party's Election Countermeasures Committee, is attending the Election Countermeasures Committee meeting held at the National Assembly on the 31st and delivering opening remarks. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] Park Hyung-joon, co-chairman of the Future United Party's joint election committee, raised criticism against the government's disaster basic income plan to provide up to 1 million won to the bottom 70% income group, calling it a "typical vote-buying policy." Co-chairman Shin Se-don also pointed out that "great chaos is inevitable." They also expressed their intention to hold this election as the "Pink Rose Revolution," symbolizing a change from the past three years through the general election.

On the morning of the 31st, Park criticized at a joint election committee meeting held at the National Assembly, saying, "It was clearly decided targeting the general election." Earlier, the government announced a plan to provide disaster basic income of up to 1 million won to the bottom 70% income group.

Park cited media reports, saying, "Despite the Ministry of Economy and Finance resisting this policy almost fiercely, key figures of the administration, including former Prime Minister Lee Nak-yeon, pushed it through," adding, "They are begging for votes by distributing money ahead of the general election, ignoring the Ministry of Economy and Finance's reasonable policy suggestions and making a political decision."

He criticized, "Former Prime Minister Lee, who served as prime minister, put the country's treasury and policy rationality aside in pursuit of votes," and said, "If that were not the case, Deputy Prime Minister Hong Nam-ki would not have insisted on leaving his opposition opinion on record." He also criticized, "The 70% criterion was decided without detailed measures, and if the 70% is based on an annual income of 80 million won, most people with good jobs such as public officials are included," calling it a "typical vote-buying policy."

Co-chairman Shin also pointed out regarding the disaster basic income, "Great chaos will occur in the future," and said, "Whether the support money I received from the government is included in income, whether I am included in the bottom 70%, whether to include deposit income or not?such enormous confusion was announced abruptly without any prior preparation."

He also emphasized the need for additional tax cuts. Shin said, "If the (budget) is cut well, 100 trillion won can be cut," and raised his voice, "Deputy Prime Minister Hong says there will be no additional tax cuts, but the people are suffering from heavy tax burdens. Health insurance premiums and comprehensive real estate taxes are rising at rocket-like speeds."

Meanwhile, on the same day, the Future United Party held a performance receiving pink roses sent by female supporters and decided to hold the election as the "Pink Rose Revolution," in line with the existing catchphrase "Change to Live." Park said, "The Future United Party will change the world through this election and change the failures of the past three years, so we will hold this election as the 'Pink Rose Revolution,'" adding, "We will hold this election as the 'Pink Rose Revolution' to change the world, change the Moon administration's failures, and change the Republic of Korea."