Basic Income Local Government Association "Pay 100% of the National Support Fund"... Government Proposal

Lee Seon-ho, mayor of Ulju-gun, Ulsan, and chairman of the Basic Income Local Government Council, is holding a press conference on the 28th at the fountain square near the Blue House Guesthouse in Jongno-gu, Seoul, before delivering a proposal for "100% payment of the national support fund" to the central government.

[Asia Economy (Seoul) = Reporter Lee Young-gyu] The Basic Income Local Government Council (Chairman Lee Seon-ho, Ulju County Governor) delivered a petition to the Prime Minister's Office on the 28th urging 100% payment of the National Support Fund.

On the same day, Ulju County Governor Lee Seon-ho held a press conference near the fountain square close to the Blue House State Guest House and explained the background of delivering the petition to the government, saying, "Currently, the central government is providing the National Support Fund to support citizens affected by the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, but since it is paid only to the bottom 88% of income earners rather than the entire population, various side effects are emerging."

In the petition, Governor Lee first expressed concern, stating, "(Due to the selective payment of the National Support Fund) social conflicts and side effects are emerging," and "Issues regarding the fairness of income criteria for eligibility for the National Support Fund are arising."

He continued, "Citizens excluded from the payment eligibility have submitted over 300,000 appeals to local governments, increasing the fatigue of frontline public officials," and added, "Due to administrative gaps caused by existing workloads, public officials are unable to provide smooth civil administrative services to the people."

Therefore, Governor Lee stated, "Together with the 66 Basic Income Local Government Council members, we believe that only 100% payment of the National Support Fund can resolve social conflicts and side effect issues, and thus we prepared this petition and delivered it to the Prime Minister's Office, which oversees the government."

Meanwhile, Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung has consistently argued that considering conflicts between classes caused by selective payment of the National Support Fund and social costs related to the classification of eligible recipients, nationwide payment is necessary whenever the opportunity arises.