Lee Jae-myung "Making a fuss over a small disaster relief fund... Regrettable remarks by Yoo Seung-min"

On the afternoon of July 22, 2017, at the Jamsil Student Gymnasium in Songpa-gu, Seoul, Lee Jae-myung, then mayor of Seongnam, and Yoo Seung-min, then member of the Bareun Party, were having a conversation at the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions National Union Representatives Conference. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Eun-young] Lee Jae-myung, Governor of Gyeonggi Province, criticized former People Power Party lawmaker Yoo Seung-min for criticizing the payment of consolation support funds to all citizens on the day, saying, "He insulted the people as primitive voters who give votes when money is thrown around by inciting that disaster relief funds are 'vote-buying acts.'"

On the 20th, Governor Lee posted a message titled "Low-level politics that do not live up to the greatness of the people" on his social media service (SNS).

Lee said, "When the greatest crisis in 100 years of human history occurred due to COVID-19, major countries around the world supported their people by enduring massive deficit fiscal spending averaging 13% of GDP, despite already carrying national debt equivalent to 110% of GDP," adding, "However, we only endured a deficit of about 3% of GDP for economic support fiscal spending, blocked by the conservative opposition party."

He continued, "Despite this situation, People Power Party politicians, who have a narrow economic perception of the wealthy party, make a fuss as if the country will collapse even if fiscal spending is slightly increased," and pointed out, "Eventually, former People Power Party lawmaker Yoo Seung-min even made a reckless remark toward President Moon Jae-in, saying he is 'worse than Shin Jae-min, the official who quit the Ministry of Strategy and Finance.'"

He added, "Former lawmaker Yoo said, 'Isn't it strange to console myself with the taxes I paid? This is why it is called a vote-buying act before the election,' and another lawmaker (People Power Party lawmaker Yoon Hee-sook) said, 'The president and his aides should gather their private wealth and give consolation money,'" calling this "an outrageous insult to the president and a disparagement of our people's high sovereign consciousness."

He also said, "The people are enduring the greatest sacrifices and pains in the world but are receiving less support than any other country worldwide," and "Regarding our advanced and community-conscious people, they incited that disaster relief funds are 'vote-buying acts' and insulted our people as 'primitive voters who give votes when money is thrown around.'"

Governor Lee added, "It is regrettable to see the conservative opposition party, which has not escaped the old habits of trying to gain reflexive benefits through obstruction rather than competing in good faith for national interest and people's happiness (Gukri Minbok), despite having the capability."

Lee Jae-myung, Governor of Gyeonggi Province, criticized former People Power Party lawmaker Yoo Seung-min for criticizing President Moon Jae-in's mention of nationwide consolation payments / Photo by Lee Jae-myung, Gyeonggi Province Facebook capture

Earlier on the 20th, former lawmaker Yoo criticized President Moon Jae-in's statement on the 19th that "the payment of consolation support funds to all citizens will be considered once the COVID-19 situation calms down," saying, "Would he spend like that if it were his own money?"

Yoo said, "Isn't it strange to console myself with the taxes I paid? This is why it is called a vote-buying act before the election," and sharply criticized, "The president is worse than Shin Jae-min, the official who quit the Ministry of Strategy and Finance worrying about national debt issuance."

Lawmaker Yoon Hee-sook from the same party also criticized President Moon, saying, "Doing whatever you feel like like this is something only possible with the royal treasury (Naetanggeum) of the Joseon Dynasty," and added, "He should gather his private wealth and give consolation money to the people."