Opposition Criticizes "Refusing to Respond" Attitude... Hong Nam-gi Says "No Apology Needed"

"Deputy Prime Minister Faces Difficulties for Expressing Convictions"
"Don't Ask Questions Like That. The People Are Watching"

"Answers Seem Annoyed and Resentful"
"Annoyance Misinterpreted"

Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Hong Nam-ki attended the plenary meeting of the Planning and Finance Committee held at the National Assembly on the 16th, adjusting his glasses. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Hyun-joo] "What kind of attitude is that in answering? You won’t answer? For example, if you say you will provide disaster relief funds, during the answering process you say that universal parts will be decided later depending on the fiscal situation, so when people ask if there will be an additional supplementary budget, they are just curious, but you answer like that?" (Kim Tae-heum, People Power Party lawmaker)

"Shall I answer?" (Hong Nam-ki, Deputy Prime Minister)

"Say it later. Are you venting because you got beaten up here and there by the ruling party?" (Rep. Kim)

"Please don’t say that." (Deputy PM Hong)

"Are you lecturing me?" (Rep. Kim)

On the 16th, tensions peaked between People Power Party lawmakers and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance Hong Nam-ki during the National Assembly’s Planning and Finance Committee plenary session. Rep. Seo Byung-soo of the People Power Party criticized Hong’s attitude and even demanded an apology, but Hong retorted, "I don’t think there is anything to apologize for."

The emotional escalation between the opposition lawmakers and Deputy PM Hong began as discussions on disaster relief funds and the supplementary budget started in earnest.

First, Rep. Chu Kyung-ho of the People Power Party asked the Ministry of Economy and Finance if they had any data related to disaster relief funds and whether he personally opposed universal disaster relief funds for all citizens. He also asked what the president meant by the fiscal capacity that can be managed. Deputy PM Hong replied, "I said we need to consider the quarantine situation, economic recovery, and fiscal situation. Personally, I think giving it to all citizens should be done cautiously. That’s all I said."

When the questioning time was almost over and the microphone was off, Rep. Chu asked, "Will there be another supplementary budget?" to which Deputy PM Hong responded, "I will not answer that question."

Rep. Kim Tae-heum pointed out that Deputy PM Hong’s answer was very inappropriate. When Kim asked again, "Has the government and ruling party decided or accepted the 4th disaster relief fund? The media reports that it has been decided," Hong replied curtly, "Didn’t I just say that the party accepted it?"

Rep. Kim said, "At first, you didn’t answer definitively that the party accepted it," and asked, "Did you come here to fight now?"

Then Rep. Kim asked, "There is confusion in discussions between the Blue House and the ruling party regarding the disaster relief fund payment. I am asking for a clear answer on how it was decided, but you answer in a dissatisfied manner while making a preamble. Is that how you answer?" Deputy PM Hong replied, "I think I answered clearly."

When Rep. Kim asked, "Where else would the government refuse to answer questions about its clear stance on disaster relief funds and future universal support?" Deputy PM Hong said, "Are we announcing the supplementary budget in advance now? If unexpected demand arises, we might have a 2nd or 3rd supplementary budget. As the person in charge of the budget, isn’t it natural that I can’t say that?"

When Rep. Kim suggested that the Deputy PM might be having difficulty expressing his convictions, Hong said, "Don’t ask questions like that," and sharply added, "The public is watching everything."

Deputy Prime Minister for Economy Hong Nam-ki is attending the full meeting of the Planning and Finance Committee held at the National Assembly on the 16th, greeting the members./Photo by Yoon Dong-ju doso7@

At the last questioning session in the morning, Rep. Seo Byung-soo of the People Power Party made a procedural statement, saying, "Deputy Prime Minister Hong Nam-ki’s attitude in answering today is disappointing. Even if you are an opposition lawmaker, you are a member of the National Assembly. You are questioning on behalf of the people. Saying you won’t answer whether there will be another supplementary budget because it’s an unreasonable question? You answered as if you were annoyed and bothered, as if you had a grudge. Is that acceptable?" He also criticized, "Regarding the ruling party-government consultations, the Ministry of Economy and Finance or our government seems to have become an organization that just follows and executes decisions made by the party. I regret such an attitude in answering," and urged an apology.

However, Deputy PM Hong retorted, "There is nothing to apologize for." He said, "I refrained from answering because I thought it was inappropriate to talk about unofficial ruling party-government consultations during the Planning and Finance Committee meeting. You said I sounded annoyed, but if you took it that way, it was a miscommunication."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.