Heo Kyung-young to Lee Jae-myung: "Giving 80,000 Won Monthly Basic Income? Unfilial Child"

Honorary Representative Heo Kyung-young of the National Revolutionary Party responding to cheers from supporters.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Seoyoung Kwon] Heo Kyung-young, the presidential candidate of the National Revolutionary Party, criticized Lee Jae-myung, the presidential candidate of the Democratic Party of Korea, calling his basic income pledge "populism."

On the 27th, Heo made this remark during an appearance on KBS Radio's "Joo Jin-woo Live." Heo said, "I will provide a monthly national dividend of 1.5 million won starting from age 18," adding, "Candidate Lee proposes about 80,000 won per month, roughly 1 million won per year." He criticized, "If a mother and father sacrificed everything to raise their child, and the child receives only 80,000 won as basic living expenses, what kind of unfilial child would that be?"

Heo had previously pledged to provide an emergency disaster relief fund of 100 million won and a monthly national dividend of 1.5 million won to all citizens aged 18 and older. Regarding his pledge, he stated, "This is not populism," and claimed, "I will reduce the number of National Assembly members to 100, eliminate their salaries, and also cut 3,000 aides."

He also said that he would pardon former Presidents Park Geun-hye and Lee Myung-bak immediately upon becoming president, adding, "I will not take a presidential salary," and "I will personally cover the 40 billion won in official expenses." He continued, "Last year, I paid over 5 billion won in comprehensive income tax," and "Female fans listen to my lectures and donate money. The amount is now enormous."

Heo said, "If a president comes from either the ruling or opposition party, the two will continue to fight, and it feels like the winner will be sent to prison," adding, "I will abolish 90% of prisons and replace them with fines." He also explained, "I will send serious criminals to the Mongolian desert to work on a yellow dust prevention project, turning the desert into grassland to prevent yellow dust from blowing over the Korean Peninsula."