"Boldly Snatching" vs "Why Collect Taxes" Lawmakers' Heated Debate Over Disaster Relief Payment Plan

Lee Jae-myung "Bills Needed for People's Livelihood Should Be Passed Quickly"
Yoon Seok-yeol "Better Not to Collect Taxes Than to Collect and Give Back"

Lee Jae-myung, Governor of Gyeonggi Province and a preliminary presidential candidate of the Democratic Party of Korea / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] Opinions diverged between Lee Jae-myung, Governor of Gyeonggi Province and a leading presidential candidate from the ruling party, and Yoon Seok-youl, former Prosecutor General and a leading opposition presidential candidate, over the method of distributing disaster relief funds included in the second supplementary budget bill. Lee strongly insisted that the nationwide disaster relief payments must be pushed through even if it requires so-called 'filibustering,' while Yoon emphasized selective payments, stating, "Cash welfare should target specific recipients for concentrated support."

On the 15th, Lee appeared on TBS's current affairs program "Kim Eo-jun's News Factory" and was asked, "Should you handle the (nationwide disaster relief) issue that Deputy Prime Minister Hong Nam-ki opposes?" He replied, "Matters concerning people's livelihoods should be boldly filibustered."

The ruling party has currently confirmed 'universal nationwide payments' of disaster relief funds as its party stance and is requesting an expansion of the supplementary budget accordingly. However, Deputy Prime Minister Hong insists on a plan to provide payments only to the bottom 80% of income earners.

Regarding this, Lee said, "The legislature can decide without the Ministry of Strategy and Finance's consent if the total amount of the supplementary budget is not increased," adding, "It must be decided."

He continued, "Don't we often talk about the 180 seats? For highly contentious issues like the anti-discrimination law, filibustering is not acceptable, but for truly necessary livelihood-related bills, we must boldly filibuster. If it is necessary for the people and we are doing the work entrusted by the people, not opposing it would be neglect of duty," he repeatedly emphasized.

Opposition presidential candidates sharply criticized Lee's claims. Former People Power Party lawmaker Yoo Seung-min said, "The expression 'do filibustering' is shocking," and criticized it as "disregarding parliamentary democracy and belittling the people."

Jeju Governor Won Hee-ryong also criticized, saying, "'Shall I pull your pants down?' candidate Lee Jae-myung made a shocking remark," and added, "The original Lee Jae-myung, dangerous, shameless, and radical, has returned. If a person who openly advocates filibustering becomes president, we cannot predict what abnormal things will happen."

Former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol, a leading opposition presidential candidate / Photo by Yonhap News

Meanwhile, former Prosecutor General Yoon also entered the disaster relief fund debate. In an interview with the "JoongAng Ilbo" on the same day, he said, "If you are going to collect (taxes) and redistribute them, generally it is best not to collect them," and argued, "Cash welfare is better provided by setting policy goals and targeting recipients for concentrated support rather than universally." In other words, he supported a selective payment plan rather than nationwide disaster relief payments.

The ruling party responded with sharp criticism, saying he "lacks basic knowledge of state administration." Kim Jin-wook, spokesperson for the Democratic Party, said in a written briefing, "It is questionable whether former Prosecutor General Yoon properly understands the tax system," and criticized him for opposing disaster relief funds for people suffering from COVID-19.

Democratic Party presidential primary candidate Kim Doo-kwan wrote on Facebook the same day, "Even middle school students know why taxes are collected, but I cannot believe an opposition presidential candidate lacks such basic common sense," and questioned, "Did he even study?"

As political controversy over the disaster relief fund distribution method grows, the government stated it could reconsider the existing payment plan based on bipartisan agreement.

Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum, attending the National Assembly Budget and Accounts Special Committee on the 15th, said, "If the National Assembly, the representative institution of the people, reaches a bipartisan agreement and decides, the government has no choice but to reconsider (the payment plan)."

However, he added, "There will be considerations about why the financial authorities have been so concerned, whether the people want everything distributed equally, or whether they want more substantial support for those in greater difficulty."