Lee Jae-myung "10 million won for travel" · Lee Nak-yeon "30 million won after discharge" · Chung Sye-kyun "100 million won for young adults"
Ruling party "Concerned about vague giveaway policy competition"
Opposition "Not fooled by a few coins to lure youth"
[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] Leading presidential candidates from the ruling party are competing to announce cash-like pledges aimed at the youth. Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung proposed "10 million won for world travel," former Democratic Party leader Lee Nak-yeon suggested "30 million won upon military discharge," and former Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun proposed a "100 million won savings account." In response, not only opposition parties but also some ruling party lawmakers expressed concerns, pointing out that "the competition to lavish state finances is increasing public worries."
On the 5th, former leader Lee Nak-yeon proposed cash support instead of "military bonus points" for men who have completed military service during a discussion on his YouTube channel 'Lee Nak-yeon TV.' He said, "I hope to provide about 30 million won as social start-up funds to conscripted men upon discharge," adding, "How about arranging military service in units that can help them in the fields they want to advance in after discharge, so that military service becomes a benefit in their lives?"
Earlier, Governor Lee Jae-myung also advocated providing 10 million won for world travel to youths who do not attend university. On the 4th, during a high school graduate employment support agreement, he said, "Which is more helpful for skill development: attending university for four years or traveling around the world for the same period?" and asked, "How about supporting 10 million won for world travel to youths who do not enter university?"
Meanwhile, former Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun mentioned the 'Future Seed Savings Account' system, which accumulates a lump sum for young adults starting their social lives. At a lecture at Gwangju University on the 29th of last month, he stated, "We are designing a policy to create the Future Seed Savings Account system, which supports 100 million won over 20 years so that all newborns can build a foundation for independence without relying on parental support when they become young adults."
The opposition criticized this as "populism," raising their voices against it. Independent lawmaker Hong Joon-pyo pointed out on his Facebook the day before, "Even now, the country's treasury is being emptied by the indiscriminate welfare handouts of the Moon Jae-in administration, yet ruling party presidential candidates are eagerly trying to lure youths with a few coins."
He continued, "Policies are not changing, and they are only trying to lure youths with a few coins, making this country truly absurd," adding, "No longer will the people and the youths of this land be deceived."
Former People Power Party lawmaker Yoo Seung-min also emphasized at the 'True Conservative' lecture held at the National Assembly, "A sound conservative party must never resemble Heo Kyung-young's party. We can never beat those people by competing in handouts," and stressed, "Now we must wage war against malignant populism."
Some ruling party lawmakers also openly expressed concerns about cash-like welfare policies. Democratic Party lawmaker Park Yong-jin, who is about to declare his presidential candidacy, criticized on Facebook, "I am concerned about the vague competition of handout policies. That cannot be a policy for the 2030 generation," and said, "When I see proposals that presidential candidates are putting forward as policies targeting people in their 20s these days, I can't help but say, 'Let's not do that too much.'"
He added, "If people think that the existing finances will be recklessly distributed and handed out, they will not agree," and said, "I hope the policy direction does not flow toward giving money but rather improving systems and restoring hope."
Democratic Party lawmaker Lee Kwang-jae, mentioned as a potential ruling party candidate, also directly criticized on Facebook, "We should share dreams and hope with the youth rather than cash," and said, "Children want dialogue and attention, but parents only seem to want to give pocket money."
He continued, "Public concerns about the 'competition to lavish state finances' are also increasing," and pointed out, "Along with distributing fish, there must be discussions on who and how to raise the cattle."
Meanwhile, as controversy arose within the political circle, Governor Lee Jae-myung responded. On the same day, he explained on Facebook, "The world travel experience was not a campaign announcement or policy proposal but a remark made as an idea to discuss the diversity of support methods during a roundtable discussion on support policies for youths who do not enter university," adding, "The core is that support should be fair regardless of university attendance without discrimination based on form or appearance, and the support methods should not be uniform but diverse, considering individual characteristics."
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