Choo Mi-ae, the Democratic Party's 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 politically.
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 unreasonable statement."
She emphasized the need for political and administrative leaders to create opportunities for all citizens to benefit during this technological transition. Choo described the national dividend system as a concept of considerable significance, noting that similar ideas are being explored internationally, thus necessitating public discussion alongside system design.
Choo also cautioned that if the People Power Party continues to incite public sentiment, uninformed citizens might misinterpret the proposal as nonsensical. She added, "There are positive aspects to this system, so we cannot definitively say which side it will favor in terms of voter sentiment."
Meanwhile, after Kim proposed the AI dividend system on May 12 via Facebook, People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyuk has been consistently critical. Jang posted on Facebook the previous day, accusing Lee Jae-myung of being motivated solely by greed, stating, "Whether it’s excess profits or surplus tax revenue, the money is not earned by Lee Jae-myung." He criticized the notion of forcibly taking 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 surplus tax revenue rather than excess profits. The Democratic Party indicated that while no discussions have taken place regarding the proposal, it should be reviewed by academia in the future.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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