Ahn Cheol-soo: "Blue House Unaware of On-Site Details... Emergency Disaster Relief Fund Cuts Off Self-Employed"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jang Sehee] Ahn Cheol-soo, leader of the People’s Party, said on the 4th regarding the government’s decision to provide emergency disaster relief funds to households in the bottom 70% income bracket based on health insurance premiums, "If sales have plummeted this year, at least emergency support should be received, but according to the government’s criteria, (self-employed individuals) could be 'cut off'."

In a Facebook post, Ahn said, "It seems the government is completely unaware of the reality faced by self-employed people pushed to the brink."

Ahn added, "Given the situation earlier this year, it makes no sense to provide support based on data from two years ago when many are on the verge of bankruptcy," and criticized, "Such a sloppy measure came out because the Blue House does not understand the field and details."

Furthermore, he argued that instead of using health insurance premiums as the standard, emergency disaster relief funds should be provided unconditionally if self-employed individuals submit sales evidence up to March of this year showing a certain scale of decrease compared to the same period last year.

He also stated that even if someone is in the bottom 70% income bracket, they should be excluded from the payment target if they are stably receiving wages without any change in employment status or conditions.

Ahn said, "For some people, COVID-19 is a disaster, and for others, it should not become additional income," and emphasized, "We must clearly uphold the principle of selective support aimed at problem-solving, not universal support aimed at winning votes."