Ruling and Opposition Agree to Pass Supplementary Budget on 24th... Special Prosecutor and Full Investigation Fail

[Asia Economy Reporter Koo Chae-eun] The ruling and opposition parties have agreed to pass the supplementary budget bill for the 4th disaster relief fund at the plenary session scheduled for the 24th. However, they failed to reach an agreement on the full investigation of National Assembly members and the introduction of a special prosecutor proposed by the Democratic Party in relation to the Korea Land and Housing Corporation (LH) scandal.

Kim Tae-nyeon, Acting Leader and Floor Leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, and Joo Ho-young, Floor Leader of the People Power Party, met at the National Assembly on the 12th and agreed on the schedule for handling the supplementary budget. The ruling and opposition parties will conduct comprehensive policy questioning at the National Assembly’s Budget and Accounts Special Committee over two days, the 18th and 19th. Afterwards, the Budget Review Subcommittee will hold hearings on the 22nd and 23rd, with plans to pass the supplementary budget bill at the plenary session on the 24th.

Floor Leader Kim Tae-nyeon said, "I believe the National Assembly should review the supplementary budget as soon as possible so that disaster relief funds can be distributed to the people," adding, "It is the National Assembly’s duty to play its role in the current difficult situation." Floor Leader Joo Ho-young stated, "As the execution rate of the 3rd disaster relief fund is less than 60% as of the end of February, we need to see its effects and review omissions and fairness to expedite the handling of the supplementary budget." Democratic Party Floor Spokesperson Hong Jeong-min said after the meeting of the two party leaders, "We agreed to make every effort to process the 4th disaster relief supplementary budget bill by the 24th."

However, no agreement was reached on the special prosecutor investigation into the LH speculation scandal and the full investigation of National Assembly members. Spokesperson Hong said, "We proposed that all 300 National Assembly members take the lead by first consenting to provide personal information for a full investigation," but "no agreement was reached on this." Differences were also confirmed regarding the special prosecutor investigation. The People Power Party’s position is that since a special prosecutor requires time to prepare, the main body of the government joint investigation should first be transferred to the prosecution. Just before the meeting, People Power Party Floor Leader Joo Ho-young told reporters, "It takes more than two months just to agree on the composition of a special prosecutor. This is a matter to be discussed after a prompt government investigation centered on the prosecution."

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