By Kim Rahn
A conservative civic coalition called on the Seoul Metropolitan Government Thursday to hold a referendum on a free school meal program after collecting the required number of signatures from residents.
The National Anti-Populism Union said that 801,263 people had signed up to demand the vote since it began collecting signatures in February. The minimum number required was 418,000, or 5 percent of eligible voters.
This will be the first residents’ referendum in Seoul since the system was adopted in 2004.
“While the ruling and opposition parties argued over populist welfare programs, Seoul citizens proved through their signatures that the free welfare program is a lie. By collecting enough signatures, now we can launch a full-scale campaign against the free school lunch program,” said Kim Jeong-soo, secretary general of the union, in a media briefing in Seoul after submitting the list of signatures to the Seoul government.
The group said schools should stop the free meal program currently offered to all students at elementary schools regardless of their parents’ financial status, and instead offer free meals to those of the lower 50-percent income bracket and then gradually expand the program.
After undergoing due procedures, the poll is likely to be held around Aug. 20 to 25. For the referendum to be valid, more than one third of eligible residents must cast votes and over half of them should be in favor of halting the program.
Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, who is against the current program, said in a press briefing, “Now Seoul stands at the crossroads to decide whether to provide free meals to the poor and the rich, and whether to end or expand the series of free-something populist policies.”
He said Seoul citizens’ decision will give a warning to politicians who think they may get more votes in elections if they offer unconditional welfare programs without keeping a balance between growth and distribution.
“The vote will also show that in future elections people will not be tempted by populist welfare pledges,” said the mayor, a possible candidate for next year’s presidential election.
Political watchers say whether or not one third of the city’s residents will take part in the vote, which will be held on a weekday, will be the key issue. Oh was optimistic about this, saying many people will come considering the importance of the poll.
Oh said he will accept the vote result whatever it may be. When asked what he will do if the majority of citizens consent to the free school lunch program, he said, “I’ll then think what political responsibility I can take.”
His commitment against “populist” programs, however, is not gaining support from the governing Grand National Party, which recently began emphasizing welfare ahead of next year’s general and presidential elections, including pledges for half-price college tuition.
If citizens vote to stop the program, the mayor will gain momentum to push ahead with his pet projects which have been halted by the city council’s opposition. His status as a possible presidential candidate will also rise.
But if people side with the program, the projects will face problems during the remainder of his mayoral term and it will deal a serious blow to Oh’s political career.
The city council’s opposition Democratic Party members, who dominate the council, said the referendum was illegal because it was about the “budget” and an issue “on trial.”
“There were reports about signature fabrication and illegal collection. We’ll uncover unqualified signatures, such as signing by proxy,” they said in a statement.