President shoots down plan to fine gov't survey nonresponders

SEOUL, Jan. 7 (Yonhap) -- President Moon Jae-in lashed out at a plan to impose fines on those who refuse to respond to government surveys, calling it an outdated, bureaucratic idea, his office Cheong Wa Dae said Monday.

The president's remarks came after a report that the statistics office has decided to impose a fine of up to 200,000 won (US$178) on those who refuse to answer questions in its survey on households' financial situation.

"(They) should provide incentives to have people take part in the survey and doing so by force is a bureaucratic idea," the president was quoted as telling his aides.

"Make sure such incidents do not take place in other areas," the president instructed, Cheong Wa Dae spokesman Kim Eui-kyeom said in a released statement.

The survey on households' financial situation is conducted monthly by Statistics Korea and is largely designed to give policymakers a view of any changes in economic conditions of average households, including income and spending.

bdk@yna.co.kr
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