Chinese tourists not covered by cash payout proposal, says South Korean opposition

The news came after the opposition-controlled National Assembly a bill passed to distribute a cash prize of 250,000 won to all South Korean citizens on August 2 as “emergency aid” during a cost of living crisis, one of Lee’s promises for the general election (archived link).

The plan has been opposed by President Yoon Suk Yeol and the ruling People Power Party (PPP), who say it is financially irresponsible. The Democratic Party knocked down a filibuster by the PPP, but Yoon is still expected to veto the bill (archived link).

The same image was also shared on other Facebook pages linked to the PPP here, here And here.

Comments on the posts showed that several users had been mistakenly misled into thinking that Lee or the Democratic Party bill proposed giving money to Chinese tourists.

Several users called Lee crazy, while others said he would be better off paying the benefits out of his own pocket “instead of with taxpayers’ money.”

Cash Payment Account

But a spokesman for Democratic Party lawmaker Seo Young-kyo, who co-authored the bill, told AFP the claim in the messages was “not true”.

He further said that Article 5 of the bill clearly states what types of foreigners are eligible for payouts, and that Chinese tourists are not included.

According to the final version of the bill posted on the National Assembly’s website, only foreigners who are residents of the country, married to a South Korean citizen, have permanent resident status or have been granted asylum in South Korea are eligible for the benefit (archived link).

The image of Lee shared with the fake post matches a scene from Channel A news images from the former Democratic Party chairman who first proposed the cash-sharing plan on March 24, ahead of the April elections (archived link).

The report, which included excerpts from Lee’s speech, said that in his speech, Lee proposed giving out 250,000 won to every South Korean citizen.

Below is a screenshot comparing the image shared in the fake news (left) with the original Channel A news report about Lee’s speech (right):

Film material of Lee’s entire speech that day, filmed by broadcaster JTBC, shows that he made no mention of whether foreigners of any kind would be eligible for the payout (archived link).

AFP has previously debunked false claims about Lee here, here And here.