Mayor Byeon Gwang-yong: "Let's Provide Separate Support Funds to the 12% of Residents Who Shared the Pain" ... Proposal Submitted to Gyeongnam Province

Gyeongnam Geoje City Mayor Byeon Gwang-yong submitted a proposal to Gyeongnam Province to provide the 5th disaster relief fund to all residents.
[Image source=Geoje City]

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Sang-hyun] On the 3rd, Byeon Gwang-yong, mayor of Geoje City, Gyeongnam Province, proposed providing separate disaster relief funds through city and county contributions to the top 12% income earners in Gyeongnam Province who were excluded from the government's 5th disaster relief fund support target.

The city submitted a proposal containing this plan to the province.

Mayor Byeon stated, "We must not discriminate against Geoje citizens and residents of the province who have participated in quarantine measures for over a year and a half to protect their families and neighbors from COVID-19," adding, "Support funds should be provided through contributions from the province and the 18 cities and counties as a form of universal support."

According to the government's 2nd supplementary budget approved by the National Assembly on the 24th, the 5th disaster relief fund will provide 250,000 KRW per person to households with income below approximately 88% based on health insurance premiums.

The budget for the support fund will be borne 80% by the national government and 20% by local governments.

Mayor Byeon said, "The government's decision to provide this disaster relief fund will be a great help to the people," but added, "However, since the recipients were selected, there are concerns about social conflicts as some inevitably fall out of the support target or dual-income couples with no property but high earned income are excluded."

He continued, "In a situation where the entire nation is coming together to overcome the national crisis, support for those excluded from the disaster relief fund will be a turning point for achieving social integration and revitalizing the livelihood economy," and earnestly requested, "I sincerely propose providing separate support funds to the 12% of residents who participated in and shared the quarantine efforts."

The city plans to request active consideration from Gyeongsangnam-do for universal support of this 5th disaster relief fund and to actively consult with the 18 cities and counties within the province.