"Moon's Relief Payments Are Vote-Buying"... Opposition Parties Criticize in Unison

President Moon mentioned 'Support Fund for National Consolation' and 'Support Fund for Boosting National Morale' the day before
Former People Power Party lawmaker Yoo Seung-min and others voiced criticism through Facebook and commentary

President Moon Jae-in is delivering a greeting at a meeting with the Democratic Party leadership held at the main building of the Blue House on the morning of the 19th. (Photo by Yonhap News)

[Asia Economy Reporter Kum Boryeong] The opposition parties have collectively criticized President Moon Jae-in's mention of 'national consolation support funds' and 'national morale-boosting support funds.'

On the 20th, Kim Yeryeong, spokesperson for the People Power Party, stated in a commentary, "Instead of election-oriented morale-boosting support funds, reveal concrete compensation measures for losses."

President Moon reportedly mentioned 'COVID-19 consolation support funds' during a meeting with party leadership the previous day. Kang Minseok, the Blue House spokesperson, said in a briefing the day before, "President Moon said that when the situation allows us to overcome COVID-19, the payment of national consolation support funds and national morale-boosting support funds could be considered."

In response, spokesperson Kim said, "This government is focused solely on winning favor for elections with a 'blank check' atmosphere," and pointed out, "They should not engage in the hypocrisy of recklessly distributing taxpayers' money in advance as if it were their own generosity to win elections and mislead the public."

Former People Power Party lawmaker Yoo Seung-min posted on Facebook the same day a critical message titled "Would they spend like this if it were their own money?" Yoo said, "If it were the president's personal money, would he spend it so extravagantly? Isn't it strange to comfort oneself with the taxes one has paid?" and added, "This is why it is called vote-buying ahead of elections."

Yoo also said, "We need to normalize the uncontrolled national finances of the past four years," and criticized, "But the president does not seem to have any intention of doing so. He is worse than Shin Jae-min, the official who quit the Ministry of Economy and Finance worrying about national debt issuance."

Na Kyung-won, the People Power Party's preliminary candidate for Seoul mayor by-election, also wrote on Facebook that day, "Where does that money come from? It is the hard-earned tax money that people have paid regularly even during the difficult times of COVID-19. Treating that money as if it were petty cash," and added, "After giving the fourth disaster relief fund, the national debt will soar to 1,000 trillion won. It's no different from boasting while spending money from your children's wallets."

Na continued, "As the election approaches, they are hastily engaging in vote-buying that is no different from 'If you vote for us, we will give you money,'" and emphasized, "The irresponsible politics of robbing Peter to pay Paul will end with a heavy judgment. The Moon Jae-in administration must restrain itself."