[Briefing] President Lee Strongly Criticizes Discriminatory Design in Consumer Voucher Cards (July 23, 2025)
[Briefing] President Lee Strongly Criticizes Discriminatory Design in Consumer Voucher Cards (July 23, 2025)
📌 Overview
On July 23, 2025, President Lee Jae-myung sharply criticized certain local governments for issuing prepaid consumer vouchers with different card colors based on monetary amounts, effectively exposing users’ income levels and vulnerable status. The President denounced the practice as a textbook example of supply-centered administrative convenience and a lack of human rights sensitivity.
🗣️ Key Remarks by President Lee
- Classifying users through card color reveals personal economic and social status.
- Such practice reflects a top-down, bureaucratic mindset with insufficient respect for human dignity.
- Immediate corrective measures were ordered along with a full-scale investigation.
- The President emphasized that public policies for livelihood recovery must not undermine citizens’ self-esteem.
🔧 Follow-up Measures
The Ministry of the Interior and Safety conducted a comprehensive survey of local government-issued prepaid cards the same morning. Problematic cards distributed in Busan and Gwangju were immediately covered with stickers to obscure their colors. The government pledged swift correction of any inconvenience or discriminatory practices related to the voucher system.
📖 Commentary: Human Rights Sensitivity in Public Policy
This incident is more than a technical flaw; it underscores the necessity of incorporating user-centered perspectives and human rights awareness into administrative processes. Previous cases in welfare delivery, disability access, and youth grants have raised similar concerns. President Lee’s reaction aligns with his long-held philosophy that welfare should be approached as a right, not charity.
Unlike past administrations, the current government frames dignity and non-discrimination as central tenets of effective governance. This distinguishes President Lee’s policy approach by integrating emotional and symbolic respect into public services.
📊 Broader Policy Context
The consumer voucher program is a core pillar of the Lee administration’s economic recovery efforts. It is part of a supplementary budget totaling KRW 31.8 trillion and aims to boost nationwide consumption. The program uses digital prepaid cards distributed to the general public.
However, the long-term success of such programs hinges not only on intent but also on thoughtful execution. Any failure to consider public perception and practical usability risks undermining trust. This incident serves as a wake-up call to enhance public engagement and pre-launch validation mechanisms in future welfare delivery models.
📅 Official Briefing Summary
July 23, 2025
Presidential Spokesperson Kang Yoo-jung
🔗 Learn More
This post is based on the official content provided by the Office of the President of the Republic of Korea.
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