On the first day of the election campaign, an additional election passed… No, who pointed out’money-spattering use’, was also silent.

On the 25th, the opposition parties passed this year’s first additional budget (additional budget) at the plenary session of the National Assembly. On the first day of the official election campaign for the 4/7 re-evaluation, they managed to agree on the payment of the 4th disaster support fund. The additional budget was confirmed to be 15 trillion won, not exceeding the total amount of the government draft. In addition, the Democratic Party emphasized that it is “fortunate to be able to keep the promises made to the public” (policy committee chairman Hong Ik-pyo), saying that it will pay “20.6 trillion won” before the election, plus some of the existing budget.

On this day, the plenary meeting was held at 8 am. Chairman Jeong Seong-ho went up to the podium and explained that “out of the original government draft of the emergency employment countermeasure project of 2,750.7 billion won, projects with low urgency and priority were reduced by 280 billion won.” The Democratic Party accepted the assertion of the people’s power that “the budget for job projects should be cut” in the review of the supplementary bill that lasted until late the night before, and budgets for non-face-to-face startup support (-60 billion won) and employment creation incentives (-137.9 billion won). It was finally agreed to reduce.

Instead, they insisted on increasing the cash-based welfare fund, which is called the 4th disaster support fund. Support for small business owners increased by KRW 1.61 trillion through support funds, direct loans, and bridge guarantees. Support for farmers and fishermen (242.2 billion won) and chartered bus drivers and bus operators (34.5 billion won) were also added. The budget for responding to Corona 19, including medical personnel infection control allowance (48 billion won), transportation and care essential worker mask support (37 billion won), and disabled support (38 billion won), has also increased.

As a result, about half of the total supplementary bill (7.3 trillion won) is used for emergency damage support for small business owners and self-employed persons. Depending on the degree of damage, 1 million to 5 million won is paid, and the scale of support increased from 2 million won to 2.5 million won when sales decrease by 40% or more, and from 2 million won to 3 million won when sales decrease by 60% or more. The National Assembly also raised the amount of support for the travel industry (2 million won → 3 million won) and the performance industry support (2 million won → 2.5 million won).

700,000 won each for 35,000 chartered bus drivers, and 300,000 won each for 460,000 small farmers with less than 0.5 ㏊ cultivation area. Taxi driver subsidy of 700,000 won, subsidy of 500,000 won for the marginalized working poor, and 500,000 won of income stabilization support for business registered street vendors were also included in the supplementary bills. In addition, there is a subsidy for employment of 10,000 health trainers (32.2 billion won), emergency management funds for fruit trees, flowers, and eco-friendly agricultural products (16 billion won), and a budget (4.9 billion won) for provision of 490 temporary accommodations for foreign workers.

Nevertheless, in the debate before the vote, “How can we save the self-employed, a small business, who is dying with a few million won of disaster support, which costs less than a month or two?” (CEO Seung-jae Choi, Rep. I urge you once more” (Counselor Yong Hye-in of the Basic Income Party) and others came out. National Assembly Speaker Park Byung-seok declared that “out of the 259 re-seats, 242 voted in favor, 6 disapproved, and 11 abstained”.

The Democratic Party has followed the policy of “I will surely pass the additional government until the official campaign period (March 25 to April 6) begins” (core officials) until the last minute. Policy Committee Chairman Hong Ik-pyo said at a policy coordination meeting held immediately after the plenary session on the same day, “We are able to support the people suffering from coronavirus with a scale of 20 trillion won, an increase of 1.100 trillion won from (government proposal) including the fixed budget.” said.

This is a statement that emphasized that the National Assembly has raised the government’s proposal for the 4th subsidy, which is tailored to less than 20 trillion won, to more than 20 trillion won. Chairman Hong added, “From today, the official campaign of the 4.7 re-election by-election begins,” he added. “This election should be a choice to overcome today’s difficulties caused by Corona 19 and create a new tomorrow for the Republic of Korea.”

The 4th disaster support fund will begin to be paid at the end of this month after a resolution by the State Council. The People’s Power claimed that in the data of the Policy Committee, “the government’s ruling party has uncovered a blind spot for corona 19 damage support that the ruling party has neglected.” The leadership of the People’s Power, who previously pointed out “spreading cash for elections,” was silent about the passing of the supplementary administration on this day.

Reporter Shim Saerom [email protected]