"Gyeonggi Residents to Receive 100,000 Won" Lee Jae-myung Considers Disaster Relief Payment Despite Lee Nak-yeon and Chung Sye-kyun's Checks

Lee Nak-yeon to Lee Jae-myung: "Turn on the left blinker and make a right turn"
Jung Sye-kyun: "Support should start from the most affected areas"

Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung is delivering opening remarks at the party-government meeting on the lifting and easing of military facility protection zones held at the National Assembly Members' Office Building on the 14th. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] Amid ongoing tensions among ruling party presidential candidates over disaster relief funds, on the 20th, Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung announced that he would provide a '2nd Disaster Basic Income' of 100,000 KRW to all former Gyeonggi residents. Previously, Lee Nak-yeon, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, and Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun had pointed out that this was 'premature.'

On the morning of the same day, Lee held an online press conference at the Gyeonggi Provincial Government Office and stated, "Considering the severe and urgent economic situation caused by COVID-19 and citizens' awareness of quarantine compliance, I judged that there is no problem in providing the 2nd Disaster Basic Income."

Gyeonggi Province plans to provide the payment to approximately 13.99 million Gyeonggi residents, including foreigners and overseas Koreans with foreign nationality, who were not eligible during the 1st Disaster Basic Income last year.

However, regarding the timing of the payment, he explained, "It is necessary and there is no problem to pay immediately after the resolution of the Gyeonggi Provincial Council, but respecting the recommendation of the Democratic Party leadership, we will closely monitor the quarantine situation and decide as soon as possible without hindering quarantine."

Lee Nak-yeon, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is attending the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 20th and delivering an opening remark. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

Earlier, Lee Nak-yeon and Prime Minister Chung, the next ruling party candidates, effectively expressed opposition to Governor Lee's decision, citing concerns that it could negatively affect quarantine efforts.

Lee Nak-yeon appeared on MBC's 'News Desk' the day before and criticized Gyeonggi Province's plan to provide 100,000 KRW disaster basic income, saying, "We are currently under social distancing, so telling people to consume is like turning on the left blinker and going right." He pointed out that it is contradictory for Gyeonggi Province to promote consumption during a quarantine emergency.

In response, Governor Lee said, "The Democratic Party leadership may worry about quarantine, but I am the quarantine official working on the front lines," and added, "As the person responsible on site, I feel the responsibility for quarantine even more deeply."

He continued, "Leader Lee also took a certification photo at a bakery to promote consumption," and added, "(The Gyeonggi Disaster Basic Income) does not interfere with quarantine and consumption can be done sufficiently. There is no need to worry much about the disaster basic income payment and consumption process causing significant risk to quarantine."

Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun is looking at his watch at the 36th International Development Cooperation Committee held at the Government Seoul Office on the 20th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Prime Minister Chung also expressed concerns that universal payments are premature. On the same day, he appeared on MBC Radio's 'Kim Jong-bae's Focus' and said, "It is good that Gyeonggi Province is providing support," but "If the third wave is ongoing, quarantine should come first, and at this time, differential support is appropriate, and it is right to support those who have suffered the most", emphasizing the justification for selective support.

This appears to be a principled agreement with local government-level support movements but a criticism that universal disaster relief funds are premature at this point.

Regarding this, Governor Lee said, "No one has been unaffected by COVID-19," and "Since the government is providing selective support based on the degree of impact, (Gyeonggi Province) judged that it is necessary to support everyone, including those not selected."