"Will Life Improve with an Extra 80,000 Won per Month?"... Choi Jae-hyung Targets 'Lee Jae-myung Basic Allowance'

Former Auditor General Choi Jae-hyung (Photo by Yonhap News)

[Asia Economy Reporter Kum Boryeong] Former Board of Audit and Inspection Chairman Choi Jae-hyung has criticized Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung's 'basic income' policy.

On the 23rd, Choi said on Facebook, "Will 80,000 won per month improve the lives of the people?"

He pointed out, "Governor Lee proposed universal basic income as a presidential campaign pledge, but the amount is about 80,000 won per month," adding, "In the end, it means spending 50 trillion won annually, which is a burden on the people, to give every citizen 80,000 won per month. It would be better to call it a universal dining-out allowance rather than basic income."

Choi continued, "I doubt whether such a small amount, not even enough for a month's allowance, can truly improve people's lives," and criticized, "Ahead of the election, it seems like just buying votes with money."

He also said, "There are reasons why no country in the world has adopted basic income. It only costs a lot in taxes and hardly improves the actual welfare level," adding, "It is the government's role to teach and help people learn how to fish, not to just hand out fish. This is especially true since the fish are provided with the people's tax money."

Choi emphasized, "I agree with the idea of expanding welfare, but I absolutely cannot agree with the idea of indiscriminately distributing cash," and stressed, "I believe welfare benefits can be effective only when provided timely to those who truly need them."