Justice Party, "Government Only Confirms Opposition to Retroactive COVID Loss Compensation... Ruling Party Must Establish Official Stance"

[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Ju-yeon] The Justice Party criticized the government and the ruling party for showing an irresponsible attitude regarding the retroactive application of COVID-19 loss compensation.

On the 13th, Lee Dong-young, the chief spokesperson of the Justice Party, urged, "It is too late, even if late, and the COVID-19 loss compensation law must be passed in the May National Assembly," regarding the failure to reach a conclusion again on the COVID loss compensation law at the National Assembly's Industry, Trade, Energy, Small and Medium Business Committee (SanJaWi) bill subcommittee held the previous day.

Lee pointed out, "The Ministry of SMEs and Startups was completely unprepared in the bill subcommittee regarding how much budget the loss compensation would require and the status of damages," and questioned, "What have they been doing until now?"

He continued, "The Ministry of Economy and Finance opposes it while only talking about fiscal concerns, and the ruling party, the Democratic Party of Korea, agrees with 'loss compensation and retroactive application' in front but hides behind the government whenever fiscal issues are raised," urging, "Stop the flashy lip service and show consistency between words and actions."

He added, "Political parties must speak with party consensus, and the National Assembly is the political space for coordination and negotiation based on party consensus," demanding the ruling party, "Decide your 'party consensus' on whether you support or oppose the retroactive application of COVID loss compensation, as a responsible ruling party of the Moon Jae-in administration."

Lee emphasized, "If only the government makes a decision, retroactive application of COVID loss compensation is possible. If only the Democratic Party of Korea makes a decision, the loss compensation law can be enacted within the May extraordinary session."

He also stated, "It is time for the government to repay its debt to the citizens," adding, "If the legislative hearing on the COVID loss compensation law is conducted as a time-wasting event or a place to listen to excuses from the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the Justice Party will not stand idly by."

The previous day, the ruling and opposition parties discussed the retroactive application of COVID-19 loss compensation at the SanJaWi subcommittee, but the government expressed reluctance toward retroactive application, resulting in no conclusion and only confirming differences in positions.

At the SanJaWi full committee meeting held that day, the ruling and opposition parties showed disagreement over whether to hold a legislative hearing. The ruling party proposed holding a legislative hearing on the 20th to hear opinions from key stakeholders, but the opposition criticized it as a stalling tactic.