Choo Mi-ae, the Democratic Party candidate for Gyeonggi governor, addressed the recent controversy surrounding the AI national dividend proposal suggested by policy chief Kim Yong-beom. She stated that while misunderstandings could influence voter sentiment, it is impossible to determine which side would benefit more from the situation.
In an interview on KBS 1 Radio's "Current Affairs," Choo remarked, "As robotics and AI technology advance, productivity can significantly increase, but existing jobs may decline. This is not an absurd statement."
She emphasized that during a period of industrial transformation, it is the responsibility of politicians and administrators to create opportunities that benefit all citizens. Choo described the national dividend system as a concept of considerable significance, noting that similar ideas are being explored abroad, and called for public discussion alongside institutional design.
Choo also warned that if the People Power Party continues to incite public sentiment, citizens who are not well-informed may misunderstand the proposal as nonsensical. She added, "There are positive aspects to this system, so we cannot definitively say it will favor one side over the other."
Meanwhile, after Kim proposed the AI dividend system on May 12 via Facebook, People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyuk has intensified his attacks. Jang criticized Lee Jae-myung, stating on Facebook the previous day, "Lee is only interested in collecting money, and the excess profits or tax revenues are not money earned by him." He further condemned the notion that they would forcibly take money while hindering industrial development as a typical gang mentality.
The Blue House clarified that Kim's proposal reflects his personal opinion and is based on the concept of utilizing excess tax revenues rather than excess profits. The Democratic Party indicated that while no discussions have taken place on the matter, it should be reviewed by academia in the future.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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