Lee Jae-myung "Now is the fastest time...Welcome Universal Local Currency Disaster Relief"

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Park No-hun] Lee Jae-myung, Governor of Gyeonggi Province, expressed support for the Democratic Party of Korea's discussion on universal local currency-type disaster relief.

Governor Lee shared a link on SNS on the 2nd to an interview by Kim Sung-hwan, the floor leadership deputy representative (universal disaster relief payments, considering distribution per capita in local currency before summer vacation if possible), calling it an "excellent decision."

The governor also stated that "it is time to undertake a comprehensive review of small business owners' loss compensation, which has been stalled alongside the disaster relief payments," and added that "the 'self-employed business emergency committee' representing small business owners damaged by COVID-19 also proactively proposed to discuss 'deducting overlaps with previously paid amounts and partial compensation even if it is not the full extent of losses.'"

He continued, "Even amid this crisis, the people do not lose their sense of 'fairness.' Politics must embrace the will of these sovereigns without further delay."

The governor stated, "Politics must not appear idle and disconnected from the will of the people. Now that the discussion has begun, I hope politics can fulfill its duty to resolve the people's deep-rooted distrust in politics."

Below is the full text of Governor Lee Jae-myung's SNS post.

<Now is the Fastest Time>
This is an excellent decision. Discussion on universal local currency-type disaster relief has begun. We welcome the party's active review. Since additional tax revenue has been generated, this is not an extraordinary budget funded by debt. There is no reason to delay.
This is an appropriate action by the nation toward sovereigns who have led unprecedented quarantine measures globally. It is the nation's minimum courtesy to small business owners and ordinary citizens who, while struggling with immediate financial difficulties and debt, have faithfully stood together with a long-term perspective.
As I have repeatedly stated, universal local currency disaster relief is an economic policy that stimulates the economy. The results of the first disaster relief payment and Gyeonggi Province's two disaster basic income initiatives already demonstrate this. The reason small business owners are directly appealing, "Please provide local currency to everyone instead of tailored support," is because the effectiveness is so significant. Given that clear multiplier effects have been verified both statistically and in public perception, this economic policy supporting small business owners must be implemented promptly.
Alongside disaster relief payment distribution, it is time to undertake a comprehensive review of small business owners' loss compensation, which has been stalled. The 'self-employed business emergency committee' representing small business owners damaged by COVID-19 has also proactively proposed to discuss 'deducting overlaps with previously paid amounts and partial compensation even if it is not the full extent of losses.' Even amid this crisis, the people do not lose their sense of 'fairness.' Politics must embrace the will of these sovereigns without further delay.
The worst outcome would be to become a subject of political dispute and do nothing. From the perspective of observing citizens, they may think, 'In the end, these politicians live well, so they act like this.' Politics must not appear idle and disconnected from the will of the people. Now that the discussion has begun, I hope politics can fulfill its duty to resolve the people's deep-rooted distrust in politics.