Kim Jong-in: "Time to Review Basic Income Issue... No Opposition Just for the Sake of Opposing"

Kim Jong-in, Emergency Committee Chairman of the United Future Party, is attending the Emergency Committee meeting held at the National Assembly on the 4th and delivering an opening remark. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] Kim Jong-in, Emergency Committee Chairman of the United Future Party, officially raised the issue of basic income, stating that "it is time to consider the basic income issue."

At the Emergency Committee meeting held at the National Assembly Main Building on the 4th, Chairman Kim said, "We will actively cooperate in a broad framework to help national innovation."

He said, "We are currently in a once-in-a-lifetime great transformation period, and once this situation ends, our country can become an emerging power internationally," adding, "It is time to review various systems and health systems for sustainable inclusive growth, create conditions for the 4th Industrial Revolution, and consider the basic income issue arising from this."

Chairman Kim emphasized, "We will no longer oppose for the sake of opposition. If it is for national development, we will actively cooperate with the ruling party," and "We will actively cooperate in legislative activities for the success of the digital New Deal, including non-face-to-face medical care, to export K-healthcare."

He also pointed out the need for the public's 'psychological quarantine' beyond the success of quarantine. Chairman Kim said, "We seem to have succeeded in dealing with the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) for now, but we cannot just boast about the success of quarantine," adding, "Now the economy must operate. Psychological quarantine for the public is necessary."

Chairman Kim said, "We must be cautious about creating excessive COVID-19 fear among the public that shrinks economic activities themselves," and "The spread of infection at the Coupang logistics center was because 'they did not rest even when sick,' but the public appeals, 'If we rest, who will pay our salary? Are we government officials?' Support measures must be actively prepared for them."

He continued, "We must provide exceptional financial support to companies reshoring overseas manufacturing facilities, improve the treatment of platform workers, mandate the four major insurances, and make our country a leading platform nation," adding, "A Data Agency should be established so that the private sector can freely access data and conduct data opening businesses."

Regarding nuclear phase-out, he expressed opposition, saying, "With the 4th Industrial Revolution increasing data centers and power usage, we need to examine whether it is sustainable without nuclear power."