[Asia Economy Reporter Jeon Jin-young] Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung’s decision to provide disaster relief funds from the provincial budget to the top 12% of Gyeonggi residents excluded from the government’s 5th disaster relief payment plan has sparked widespread backlash from presidential candidates of both ruling and opposition parties, who say it undermines the spirit of the bipartisan agreement. Critics pointed out that Lee, who still holds the governor position, is engaging in ‘vote-buying’ by using local government funds.
Oh Young-hoon, chief spokesperson for Lee Nak-yeon’s campaign, said in an interview with YTN Radio’s ‘Hwang Bo-seon’s Start of a New Morning’ on the 3rd, “The biggest problem is that it could cause confusion in state affairs regarding decisions made by the National Assembly.” He added, “During the first and second rounds of disaster relief payments, Gyeonggi Province provided funds to all residents, resulting in about 2.7 trillion won in debt. Given this situation, it is difficult to understand providing payments to the top 12% income earners.”
Former Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun criticized in an interview with BBS Radio’s ‘Park Kyung-soo’s Morning Journal’ on the same day, saying, “The 88% payment was agreed upon by the party, government, and National Assembly, including both ruling and opposition parties. If one basic or metropolitan local government head ignores this, what will other local governments do? What about the government, National Assembly, and parties that have made such efforts so far? I believe this is a very inappropriate action.”
Criticism from opposition candidates also continued. Former Board of Audit and Inspection Chairman Choi Jae-hyung wrote on Facebook that, “How can we possibly understand such a complete disregard for the positions of the government, ruling party, and National Assembly?” He insisted, “Governor Lee must stop abusing provincial power for political vote-buying and withdraw the 100% disaster relief payment exclusive to Gyeonggi Province.”
Former Jeju Governor Won Hee-ryong also criticized, calling it a “clear act of deceiving residents,” and questioned, “Is the reason he clings to the governor position while running in the presidential primary to use the ‘governor’s chance’ for vote-buying?”
Governor Lee stated at a press conference with reporters from the Daejeon and Chungnam regions the previous day, “It is my belief that disaster relief payments should be given to all citizens. Saying that I am acting differently from what the central government has decided is the same as saying local governments should not exercise autonomy.”
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