Lee Jae-myung, a candidate for the Democratic Party of Korea presidential primary, stated that he did not abandon the basic society and basic income policies during the second debate. Candidates Kim Kyeong-soo and Kim Dong-yeon emphasized selective support such as "solving absolute poverty" or "opportunity income" rather than universally distributing basic society.
Lee Jae-myung, Kim Kyeong-soo, and Kim Dong-yeon participated in the "Democratic Party of Korea 21st presidential primary candidate debate" held at OhmyTV on the afternoon of the 23rd. Candidate Lee asked candidates Kim Kyeong-soo and Kim Dong-yeon about their positions on basic society and basic income during the "leadership debate" segment.
Candidate Lee declared that he has not abandoned his signature policies of basic society and basic income. However, he stated that in order to realize the basic society, he would focus on economic growth for the time being.
Candidate Lee said, "In the future, a new civilization of the advanced era will open, and productivity will increase tremendously. As the contribution of individuals decreases, issues of distribution arise, and ultimately, the underlying premise of existing welfare systems disappears," adding that "there will be a need for a universal basic society beyond the welfare society."
He continued, "(The basic society) cannot be done immediately, and it is not something that must be done right away, but the problem is that we need to prepare for it," and stated, "We should focus on the economy and growth; I wanted to say that I have not abandoned (the basic society and basic income)."
Candidate Kim Kyeong-soo emphasized that supporting citizens below the absolute poverty line is a priority when asked about basic society. Candidate Kim Kyeong-soo noted, "Just from a recent report from Moody's, there is analysis suggesting that there are issues with government finances for going straight to basic income," and stated, "About 10% of the population in South Korea is below the absolute poverty line. Especially, among the elderly who are responsible for industrialization, the rate of absolute poverty is high, so we need to address them first."
Candidate Kim Dong-yeon reiterated the 'opportunity income' he has emphasized in the past. Candidate Kim Dong-yeon said, "I fully understand the intent of Candidate Lee, but until technological advancements become a reality, it is hasty to pursue ways to enhance social productivity," adding that "we need to support those who create social value through opportunity income and encourage work motivation."
During the leadership debate, Candidate Kim Kyeong-soo posed a question to Candidate Lee about the idea of "how about solving absolute poverty and moving toward basic society?" He particularly pointed out that it is necessary to secure finances and revenue sources to move toward basic society. Candidate Kim Dong-yeon criticized this approach, mentioning the tax cut policies promoted by the Democratic Party and termed it as "a populist approach."