Son Hak-kyu: "Let's Provide Emergency Disaster Relief Fund of 500,000 Won Per Person"

"Wealthy Class to be Taxed Later for Recovery"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Chun-han] Sohn Hak-kyu, Standing Election Countermeasures Committee Chairman of the Minsaeng Party, criticized on the 5th the government's decision to provide emergency disaster relief funds to the bottom 70% of households based on health insurance premiums, saying, "The criteria and timing based on health insurance premiums are ambiguous, so dissatisfaction will grow over who receives it and who does not."

After paying respects at the Daegu 2·28 Democracy Movement Memorial Tower on the same day, Sohn told reporters, "In this case, it would be better to provide 500,000 won per person overall, and actively propose that those who do not need to receive it later return it through taxes."

Sohn explained, "Even if those currently receiving stable salaries fall within the bottom 70% income bracket, it is appropriate to exclude them from the emergency disaster relief target," and added, "To prevent overlapping payments with support funds provided by local governments, it is necessary to provide 500,000 won per person overall and later recover it through taxes from the wealthy."

Regarding the damage caused by the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) in Daegu, Sohn emphasized, "It is essential to support 6 million won per business for sales losses caused by the COVID-19 situation, defer or reduce corporate and income taxes for at least three months, and raise the simplified tax base to 100 million won," and stressed, "The government must actively devise support measures."