People Power Party: "Nationwide Vaccination and Support for Middle and High School Students Needed More Than 20,000 Won Communication Fee"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] The People Power Party emphasized that, regarding the 4th supplementary budget, the budget for nationwide flu vaccinations and care support for middle and high school students is more necessary than the 20,000 KRW communication fee.

On the 20th, Bae Jun-young, spokesperson for the People Power Party, stated in a commentary, "If there is a more urgent need even if it means borrowing money, it would be the budget for nationwide flu vaccinations and care support for middle and high school students."

Spokesperson Bae said, "If the temperature drops further and the flu begins to spread, mixing with COVID-19 (novel coronavirus infection) could cause significant confusion in COVID-19 prevention efforts," emphasizing, "To protect the health, lives, and safety of the people, it is necessary to provide free flu vaccinations to all citizens."

He continued, "The current government provided 200,000 KRW per person in care support funds only to preschool children and elementary students in the 4th supplementary budget, but middle and high school students also urgently need care and support," citing examples of Yongin City (100,000 KRW) and Chungju City (400,000 KRW), which extended care support funds to high school students.

Spokesperson Bae said, "Supporting care expenses for all 2.84 million middle and high school students at the same level as elementary students would require about 570 billion KRW," adding, "This amount is 360 billion KRW less than the 930 billion KRW spent on the communication fee discount for those aged 13 and older, which about 60% of the public considered inappropriate, and can support all parents." He also added that disaster relief payments, currently limited to individual taxi drivers, should be expanded to include corporate taxi drivers for fairness.