Controversy is expected as the Seoul Metropolitan Government and 25 autonomous districts will pay the Corona 19 disaster support fund ahead of the by-election of the mayor of Seoul on the 7th of next month. As the central government’s additional budget for the 4th disaster support payment is expected to pass through the National Assembly plenary session on the 24th, even local governments are adding cash support, pointing out whether it is for election purposes.
The Seoul Metropolitan Government and the Seoul City Mayor’s Council held a press conference at the Seoul City Hall on the 22nd and announced that they would provide approximately 500 billion won worth of disaster assistance from the financial resources provided by the Seoul Metropolitan Government and autonomous districts. Seo Jeong-hyup, acting mayor of Seoul, explained the plan to execute disaster subsidies at a press conference on the day, saying, “We will focus all our capabilities on recovering the people’s livelihoods that are in an emergency situation due to the prolonged Corona 19.”
The Seoul Metropolitan Government’s disaster support fund is provided through 12 projects in three areas, including support for small businesses (275.3 billion won), support for the vulnerable (135.1 billion won), and support for affected industries (42.4 billion won). Mainly, support was concentrated in the blind spots excluded from the 4th disaster subsidy payment target of the central government or the areas where the subsidy was judged to be insufficient. The Seoul Economy Vitality Fund, which is provided to small business owners, supports 600,000 to 1.5 million won per company for prohibited or restricted businesses. 500,000 won per person will be paid to 48,000 small business owners who have closed their business since March 22 last year. In addition, it lends money to 25,000 small business owners who are suffering from management difficulties with no interest, up to the limit of 20 million won. It is 500 billion won and the interest is borne by the autonomous district.
100,000 won per person is provided to vulnerable groups such as basic living recipients and the next higher class, and 500,000 won per person is provided to unemployed youth aged 19 to 34 within two years after graduation. 500,000 to 1 million won per facility for 1036 nursing homes for the elderly that were subject to the Corona 19 preliminary inspection, and 1 million won per facility for 5081 daycare centers and 429 regional children’s centers that suffered from long-term closures. 10 million won per company is provided to 139 village bus companies that have suffered from a decrease in passengers, and 500,000 won per person is paid to corporate taxis, village buses, chartered buses, and airport bus drivers. In the culture and arts world, which has suffered from cancellation of performances, 1 million won per person is provided to 10,000 people with a median household income of less than 120%.
As for the financial resources, the Seoul Metropolitan Government decided to raise 300 billion won and the autonomous districts 200 billion won. In-dong Jo, head of Seoul’s Planning and Coordination Office, said, “In the case of Seoul, we have decided to use the disaster management fund and use some reserves without having to organize additional budgets.”
Disaster subsidies are most likely to be paid after the by-election on April 7. However, applications for payment of some grants may commence before Election Day. If an application for disaster assistance payment is made before the election, it is expected that it will be difficult to reverse even if a new market arrives. This is because there are citizens who have already applied for payment at the time of the mayor’s inauguration. For this reason, criticism for supporting the by-election is expected to increase, centering on the opposition. In response, Lee Dong-jin, chairman of the Mayor’s Council of Seoul City Office (Dobong-gu Office), argued that “it has nothing to do with the election.” In this regard, Seocho-gu mayor Cho Eun-hee, the only opposition ward mayor in the Seoul region, said in favor of the Seoul disaster subsidy. An official in Seocho-gu said, “Because it is difficult for people to live with Corona 19, we decided to be together on a massive scale.”
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