Korn, Deputy Leader of the Democrat Party, slammed Pheu Thai for poor preparation, presenting evidence that the 'National Help Check' rescued the 2009 economy and is vastly different from the 'random million-baht giveaway.' The contrast is stark.
On 26 Jan 2026 GMT+7, Korn Chatikavanij, Deputy Leader of the Democrat Party and prime ministerial candidate, posted on his personal page to counter claims by Pheu Thai members that the Democrat Party’s cash handout policy resembled current policies. He clarified the facts, highlighting significant differences.
The Democrat Party’s National Help Check program has long been recognized for its positive impact on resolving the 2009 economic crisis. It was an effective initiative that contributed to Korn receiving the Global Finance Minister of the Year award. Yet, some question why the National Help Check succeeded while Pheu Thai’s policy of randomly giving away millions daily does not. This appears to be a baseless rebuttal without proper research.
When the Democrat Party formed the government, it inherited an economic crisis stemming from the US subprime mortgage collapse, known as the 'Hamburger Crisis.' They took over from Somchai Wongsawat’s administration amid a negative government cash balance, with reports warning Thailand risked a shutdown—meaning insufficient funds to close the fiscal accounts.
Korn noted that at the time, the government implemented various economic stimulus measures, including issuing 2,000-baht checks to those earning less than 15,000 baht per month, mostly social security members, reaching over 10 million recipients. In contrast, Pheu Thai’s random million-baht giveaway depends on chance, with only 3,285 recipients—0.005% of the population—without distinguishing between rich or poor or those in need. Transparency about the selection method and the chances for ordinary citizens remains unclear.
The National Help Check was never a campaign promise but a pragmatic economic solution, similar to the current government’s 'Half-Half' scheme under Prime Minister Prayut. By contrast, Pheu Thai announced its giveaway during campaigning to gain direct votes. Previously, they pledged a 10,000-baht digital handout but failed to deliver, showing a lack of prior study on the feasibility of their promises.
The Democrat Party’s economic stimulus then revitalized the Thai economy, generating real economic momentum and leading to over 7.5% growth by year-end, boosting local trade and commerce.
This achievement was reported worldwide. Korn added that big data is useless if held by people unable to analyze and think critically.
Korn stated that the recent statements by the former finance minister underscore the importance of designing economic policies based on data and targeted problem-solving, rather than mere political gain through random prize giveaways.