"The 30.6 billion won going into projects like carrying luggage for Chinese tourists are representative items that do not fit at all with the purpose of this war-time supplementary budget." (Jang Dong-hyeok, People Power Party leader)
"It seems like a budget to promote tourism. Surely it wouldn't support only Chinese people, would it?" (President Lee Jae-myung)
"The beneficiaries are limited to Chinese." (Leader Jang)
"(Smiling) If it's set for Chinese people, cut it. But as I see it, that's unlikely. This is also a matter of facts." (the president)
President Lee Jae-myung on the 7th argued with People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyeok over whether to fund "Chinese tourist luggage carry" in relation to the government's supplementary budget plan. The government allocated 26.2 trillion won to respond to the energy supply crisis and high oil prices stemming from the Middle East situation, and the budget included funds to attract Chinese-speaking tourists.
This was the second face-to-face meeting between the two since a luncheon at the Yongsan presidential office in Sep. last year. In Feb., Leader Jang skipped a meeting promised with the president, saying, "We must stop the Democratic Party of Korea's legislative monopoly." They met again seven months later for a ruling-opposition-government livelihood economy consultation, and tensions continued over whether there was a "Chinese supplementary budget." The "luggage carry" budget was indeed included in the government's plan, but it was confirmed to have been fully cut after a preliminary review by a National Assembly standing committee the day before.
In his opening remarks, Leader Jang said, "49 billion won to support TBS, which was known as the Kim Ou-joon broadcast; 30.6 billion won for projects that carry Chinese tourists' luggage; 25 billion won for apartment balcony solar projects; and 58.7 billion won for a full investigation into farmland speculation are representative projects that do not fit at all with the purpose of this war-time supplementary budget."
In response, the president asked, "Is this paid only to Chinese people? If foreign tourists come, is it set to be given only to Chinese?" Leader Jang said, "That's how it is according to the current budget plan. The beneficiaries are limited to Chinese," and Song Eon-seog, the People Power Party floor leader, said, "It does not fit at all with the purpose of the war-time supplementary budget."
The president said, "I don't know the details, but it seems like a budget to promote tourism. Surely it wouldn't support only Chinese people," adding, "If it's listed as for Chinese people, cut it. But as I see it, that seems unlikely." He continued, "This is also a matter of facts," and said, "Leader Jang believes it is for supporting Chinese, so let's check the facts."
◇Government allocates 500 million won for "Chinese tourists' luggage-carry service," cut in National Assembly review
Initially, the government submitted to the National Assembly a 30.6 billion won budget plan for the "support project to revitalize marketing to attract inbound tourists" with the aim of "expanding attraction of the Chinese-speaking market." This included a total of 30.6 billion won: ▲ 4.986 billion won for tourism product development and promotion ▲ 4.814 billion won for welcoming, hospitality, and convenience enhancement ▲ 20.8 billion won for publicity and marketing in the China market. In particular, 500 million won of the "welcoming, hospitality, and convenience enhancement for Chinese tourists" budget was allocated under the title "support to promote use of luggage-carry service."
However, at the preliminary review by the National Assembly Culture, Sports, and Tourism Committee the day before, 2.5 billion won out of the 30.6 billion won was cut on grounds such as "it does not meet the purpose of the war-time supplementary budget." The 500 million won luggage-carry service budget was cut in full. The cruise port call welcoming event budget was reduced by 1.6 billion won, and the remaining 400 million won was cut as other adjustment items.