Kim Jong-in to Yoon: "Is 50 Trillion Won Compensation Really Enough?"... Emphasizing '100 Trillion Won Investment'

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jun-yi] Kim Jong-in, the head of the People Power Party's overall election countermeasures committee, stated regarding presidential candidate Yoon Seok-yeol's proposal to invest 50 trillion won in compensation for small business owners and self-employed individuals affected by COVID-19, "One might wonder if that amount is truly sufficient." He reiterated the need for additional financial support for COVID-19 damage compensation.

On the 8th, Kim appeared on MBN News and said, "Depending on the situation, it could go up to 100 trillion won."

Kim, who had proposed the establishment of a 100 trillion won loss compensation fund even before last year's general election during the early spread of COVID-19, said, "When COVID-19 began, I thought a mid- to long-term plan needed to be made."

He added, "Small business owners and self-employed individuals suffering economic losses due to the COVID-19 crisis must maintain their livelihoods, and the state cannot shirk its responsibility. I said a 100 trillion won fund was necessary to handle this, but it was not well received."

Regarding Kim's claims, Yoon's camp emphasized the '50 trillion won investment' on the same day. Lee Yang-su, chief spokesperson, stated in a notice, "Candidate Yoon Seok-yeol's pledge related to compensation for self-employed individuals is an investment of 50 trillion won," adding, "The funding plan has been thoroughly reviewed, and this pledge has not changed."

Meanwhile, when asked which aspects of candidate Yoon he highly evaluates, Kim praised, "He is free from vested interests in the political sphere," and said, "Perhaps Yoon's drive can solve the problems our country has faced and failed to overcome."

Regarding rumors of conflict with Kim Byung-jun, the standing election committee chairman, Kim dismissed them, saying, "If there had been any friction or such assumptions between him and me, I would not have joined the election committee."