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| Lee Jae-myung, the presidential candidate of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, speaks during an event at the Kimdaejung Convention Center in Gwangju, Jan. 5. Yonhap |
Lee Jae-myung, the presidential candidate of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), renewed his call for providing COVID-19 relief grants to all people Wednesday, saying it was an effective way to help pandemic-hit small businesses.
"Basically, all people have suffered (from COVID-19), so opportunity should be given to all of them," Lee told reporters after a campaign event in Gwangju, 330 kilometers southwest of Seoul. "I am not saying it needs to be done immediately but in principle it is the right way to go."
Lee had stopped calling for relief grants to all people after the government repeatedly expressed opposition over concerns about the country's fiscal soundness.
But the former Gyeonggi Province governor recently brought back his proposal, claiming it would actually help small merchants more, considering the multiplier effect.
In his New Year press conference Tuesday, Lee said he believes drawing up an extra budget of up to 30 trillion won ($25 billion) before the end of January would be possible to fund his plan.
The DPK also has been pushing for a supplementary budget but said it is first thinking of supporting pandemic-hit small businesses.
"We do not know whether one or two extra budgets will be drawn up, but I just want to say that we should create an extra budget first to spend on the urgent matter, and then expand it if we can afford it," Lee said. "But this is an issue in which the government and parties need to first gather opinions, as I cannot make a decision on my own."
Regarding his election pledge of including hair loss drugs in the National Health Insurance coverage, Lee said he was seriously looking into the issue.
"In terms of bodily integrity, I believe hair loss should be a subject for National Health Insurance coverage," he said. "Our policy unit is currently reviewing related issues, such as the financial burden of the program and coverage limits, in detail."
Meanwhile, Lee stressed unity and solidarity in his campaign event with former Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon in the liberal stronghold of Gwangju.
The two, who were rivals in the DP primary, last month agreed to co-head a "state vision and national unity committee" inside Lee's campaign.
Lee's move came as Yoon Suk-yeol of the main opposition People Power Party announced the dissolution of his campaign committee amid a power struggle within the party. (Yonhap)
