The Democratic Party of Korea has begun full-scale deliberations at the National Assembly on the ‘2024 Special Measures Act to Overcome the Livelihood Crisis (Special Livelihood Crisis Measures Act),’ which was adopted as the party’s official stance. Legislative discussions on livelihood support payments, including selective support methods and payments to all citizens, have gained momentum.
On the 2nd, the Special Livelihood Crisis Measures Act, proposed by all Democratic Party members including former party leader Lee Jae-myung, was submitted to the plenary session of the National Assembly’s Public Administration and Security Committee. However, since both ruling and opposition parties agreed to only submit the bill and listen to the expert committee’s review report, no further discussions took place.
This bill includes provisions for the government and local governments to provide between 250,000 and 350,000 KRW in the form of local love gift certificates in response to the livelihood crisis. To stimulate consumption, the payment amount must be used within four months.
Initially, the Democratic Party argued for a payment of 250,000 KRW to all citizens, but on May 29, former leader Lee stated, "We are willing to accept differentiated support," adding, "We are also willing to accept a matching scheme where some portion is borne by the recipients themselves."
The Democratic Party is making every effort to accelerate discussions on the livelihood recovery support fund, which the government and ruling party have neglected. Democratic Party Supreme Council member Seo Young-kyo also proposed a ‘Special Act for the Payment of Livelihood Recovery Support Funds’ in the supplementary session, which includes a plan to distribute local love gift certificates by September 30. In addition, the Democratic Party has proposed bills facilitating the preparation of supplementary budgets related to the funding of livelihood support payments. Democratic Party lawmaker Ahn Do-geol introduced the National Finance Act amendment the day before, which includes “urgent fiscal expenditures for resolving polarization and stabilizing the livelihoods of vulnerable groups” as a condition for supplementary budget preparation.
In its review report, the Public Administration and Security Committee stated regarding the Special Livelihood Crisis Measures Act, "If the livelihood recovery support fund is paid through government budgetary measures such as budget amendments or supplementary budget preparations, it can be regarded as legislation imposing an obligation on the government’s fiscal expenditure," adding, "If the bill is passed and the government’s fiscal expenditure obligation is imposed, it may meet the conditions for supplementary budget preparation."
Meanwhile, in the Public Administration and Security Committee, a blame game erupted over the absence of Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min from the plenary session’s current affairs report, which was held solely by the opposition party.
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