Local governments pushing to hand out additional pandemic relief money

Several local governments are planning to dole out a second round of COVID-19 pandemic relief funds to help residents cope with the economic impact of the coronavirus outbreak, informed officials said Saturday.

The government of Daegu, the city hit hard by the outbreak months earlier, announced a plan earlier this week to pay 100,000 won (US$83) each to all its 2.42 million residents this fall, as part of a second disaster relief package.

The city, about 300 kilometers southeast of Seoul, said it will raise 243 billion won, including 51.2 billion won from state coffers, to finance the new package, noting the actual payments will begin after the central government's ongoing emergency relief program ends Aug. 31.

"All citizens will receive relief money of 100,000 won per person," said Daegu Mayor Kwon Young-jin in a news conference Thursday, expressing hope that the payment will be completed before Chuseok, the Korean equivalent of Thanksgiving, which falls Oct. 1 this year.

In April, Daegu implemented its first disaster relief program, paying 500,000 won to 900,000 won each to about 450,000 households earning less than the median income.

Kwon explained that the local government decided to expand the scope of relief beneficiaries to all residents this time to ease the economic damage from the prolonged coronavirus pandemic and give comfort to citizens who have “endured extended suffering.”

The provincial government of Jeju is also reportedly looking to extend a second disaster relief package to its residents, according to officials in the southern resort island.

The Jeju government said it has secured 23 billion won in a supplementary budget to pay 100,000 won each to all residents, possibly during September.

Gov. Lee Jae-myung of Gyeonggi Province recently proposed that the central government make a second disaster relief paymeny of 200,000 won to all people nationwide.

Lee has also asked for special budgetary support from the central government to first implement the 200,000 won relief money plan in the province, but the Moon Jae-in government and the ruling Democratic Party have yet to give a clear response.

In related moves, several lower-level local governments, such as Wanju County in North Jeolla Province, the city of Jecheon in North Chungcheong Province, the city of Wonju and Yeongweol County, both in Gangwon Province, and Ulju in North Gyeongsang Province, have already paid or are planning to pay disaster relief money of between 80,000 won and 200,000 won each to their residents.

In May, the Moon government began paying out 1 million won each to households with four or more members, 800,000 won to three-person households, 600,000 won to two-person households and 400,000 won to single-person households, as part of an emergency disaster relief package.

The payments from the central government started May 4 and recipients must spend the money given as vouchers or credit card additions by Aug. 31 or it will be taken away as a donation. (Yonhap)