Integrated Union Demands 'Universal Payment' for 5th Disaster Relief Fund

Considering the Nature of the 'National Consolation Payment,' Alleviating the Burden on Local Government Officials

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] The National Integrated Public Officials Labor Union (Chairman An Seong-eun, photo) issued a statement on the 13th, asserting that the recently controversial 5th COVID-19 disaster relief fund should be provided to all citizens nationwide.

The union urged, “We call on the political circles and financial authorities to go beyond the exhausting debates regarding the payment method and decide to promptly distribute the 5th disaster relief fund to all citizens nationwide.” They explained that the nationwide payment method “prevents administrative waste, reduces the burden on local government officials dedicated to COVID-19 prevention, and aligns with the nature of the disaster relief fund as consolation money for all citizens affected by COVID-19.”

They also emphasized, “There is a need to listen to opinions that selecting recipients based on health insurance premiums is neither fair nor objective,” adding, “In particular, applying health insurance premium criteria to the younger generation to select recipients should be considered carefully as it may lead to unintended discrimination.”

Furthermore, they added, “For the swift distribution of the 5th disaster relief fund, it would be technically effective to first provide it to all citizens and later selectively recover it through taxes.”

The 5th COVID-19 Disaster Relief Fund Should Be Distributed to All Citizens Nationwide

Recently, controversy has been intense regarding the COVID-19 disaster relief fund. Broadly speaking, political opinions are divided over whether to distribute selectively or to all citizens. Yesterday, the leaders of the ruling and opposition parties met and agreed to expand the relief fund recipients from the current bottom 80% income bracket to all citizens, but the agreement collapsed due to internal opposition within the conservative opposition party.

The Ministry of Economy and Finance stirred controversy as Deputy Prime Minister Hong Nam-ki expressed disagreement with providing the relief fund to all citizens. Last week, the National Association of Mayors, County Governors, and District Heads urged the government and the National Assembly to distribute the 5th disaster relief fund without selection to all citizens, in line with its nature as a “nationwide consolation fund.”

We agree with the position that the 5th disaster relief fund to overcome COVID-19 should be distributed to all citizens nationwide.

First, this 5th disaster relief fund is essentially a “nationwide consolation fund” for the majority of citizens who have suffered due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic. The payment method that fits the nature of this relief fund can only be nationwide distribution.

Also, the current selective payment method targeting the bottom 80% income bracket inevitably causes unnecessary administrative waste in selecting recipients. The selective payment method will further increase the workload of local government officials, who are already heavily burdened with quarantine duties due to the recent spread of COVID-19 variants.

Moreover, there is a need to heed opinions that selecting recipients based on health insurance premiums is neither fair nor objective. Especially, applying health insurance premium criteria to the younger generation to select recipients should be considered carefully as it may lead to unintended discrimination.

For the swift distribution of the 5th disaster relief fund, it would be technically effective to first provide it to all citizens and later selectively recover it through taxes.

We urge the political circles and financial authorities to go beyond the exhausting debates regarding the payment method and decide to promptly distribute the 5th disaster relief fund to all citizens nationwide. This method prevents administrative waste, reduces the burden on local government officials dedicated to COVID-19 prevention, and aligns with the nature of the disaster relief fund as consolation money for all citizens affected by COVID-19.