Due to the controversy over the amount printed in the upper right corner of the prepaid card for the livelihood recovery consumption coupon, the situation in Sejong City (above) and Busan City where it is covered with a sticker. /Courtesy of Park So-jeong.

On the morning of the 25th, at a community center in Sejong City, civil servants receiving applications for the 'livelihood recovery consumption coupon' were peeling off label stickers one by one at the reception desk and sticking them on the prepaid cards. On the upper right corner of the cards, it was labeled '₩180,000', '₩330,000', and '₩430,000', but this was to obscure the amounts as it was controversial for being 'discriminatory against certain classes.' The city of Sejong had not yet prepared proper stickers to cover the amounts.

Other local governments are in the same situation. Busan City has been sticking on prepaid cards a sticker that says 'Busan is good,' while Gangwon Province uses a banner-shaped sticker saying 'Stay strong.' A civil servant from a community center identified as Mr. A said, 'I've been just sticking stickers all day long.'

On the afternoon of the 23rd, three days after the distribution of the livelihood recovery consumption coupon, an employee holds differently colored physical cards at the Administrative Welfare Center in Nongsong 1-dong, Seo-gu, Gwangju. Gwangju City caused controversy by issuing the livelihood recovery consumption coupon prepaid cards in different colors based on income. /Courtesy of Yonhap News.

◇Gwangju City civil servant said, 'Prepaid cards without color distinction will arrive in 2-3 weeks.'

The unusual 'sticker pasting' frenzy experienced by frontline civil servants arose as the government hastily implemented measures in response to the controversy surrounding the 'discrimination' of consumption coupons.

The current consumption coupons provide a basic amount of ₩150,000 to all citizens, ₩300,000 to the lower-income bracket and single-parent families, and ₩400,000 to basic livelihood recipients. Residents outside the capital region receive an additional ₩30,000, while residents in 84 rural population decline areas receive an additional ₩50,000.

However, when it became known that Gwangju City issued pink cards for the general public, green cards for the lower-income class and single-parent families, and dark blue cards for basic livelihood recipients, criticism arose describing it as 'an anti-human rights act.' This is because revealing the fact that they are low-income individuals is inherent in using the prepaid cards.

Ultimately, civil servants in Gwangju City have been covering the green and dark blue cards with pink stickers. The work is complicated, requiring civil servants to come in early or stay late to complete the task. A civil servant in Gwangju remarked, 'There are so many that we can't finish quickly,' and added, 'The newly ordered prepaid cards without color distinction are expected to arrive in 2-3 weeks. Until then, we will probably have to continue pasting stickers for a while.'

Such incidents have largely occurred in 92 out of the 160 local governments that provide consumption coupons in the form of prepaid cards. Seoul City, which opted for a method where the amount is charged on-site upon application, was the only exception. As of midnight that day, 9% (2,543,600 people) of all consumption coupon applicants have received such prepaid cards.

President Lee Jae-myung, a day after the controversy on the 23rd, said it was 'a typical administrative convenience' and ordered to 'correct it immediately.' The Ministry of the Interior and Safety conducted a comprehensive investigation of local governments and implemented corrective measures. Afterwards, it was announced that 'all measures have been taken.'

On the 24th, at the Administrative Welfare Center in Yongbong-dong, Buk-gu, Gwangju, employees and bank officials are attaching stickers to the livelihood recovery consumption coupon physical cards to change the colors. /Courtesy of Gwangju Buk-gu.

◇Stickers are used to cover the amounts, yet the '₩180,000' for general citizens is not being provided.

Still, many local government officials continue to put stickers on the prepaid cards. Depending on the region, there are also loopholes. A prepaid card received from a community center in the Chungcheong region had the amount '₩180,000' printed on it. The officials there said, 'We only stick stickers on cards that show ₩430,000 or ₩330,000.' Hence, people receiving cards with stickers are essentially being 'certified' as low-income.

Citizens' reactions vary. One citizen met at the community center said, 'I don't think it will matter much.' Another citizen commented, 'It seems the government has not properly established guidelines, but is only making it extremely harsh for the low-level officials,' adding, 'Can't they just remove it with acetone if they want?' Conversely, opinions also exist that state, 'Even if covered with stickers, the colors show through the gaps,' and 'Stickers are only placed on lower-income individuals, single-parent families, and basic livelihood recipients, which still gives it away.'

Meanwhile, the Gwangju Regional Headquarters of the National Public Workers Union (Public Servants Union) issued a statement on the 24th saying, 'In a situation of significant damage from record rainfall, it is unacceptable to compel employees, who are busy with emergency work and disaster recovery, to do the work of pasting stickers.' They also stated that Gwangju Mayor Kang Ki-jung should apologize to citizens, as well as to public officials who have worked hard late into the night.

※ This article has been translated by AI. Share your feedback here.