Yeo Urges Opposition Cooperation as '4th Disaster Relief Fund' Supplementary Budget Faces Solo Passage...

Kim Tae-nyeon Acting Leader Expresses Determination to "Convince Opposition and Process Today"

National Assembly Main Chamber. / Photo by Dongju Yoon doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporters Hyunju Lee, Sunhee Son, Jinyoung Jeon] The Democratic Party of Korea urged the People Power Party to cooperate in passing the supplementary budget bill for the 4th disaster relief fund payment at the plenary session on the 24th.

The Democratic Party showed its determination to pass the supplementary budget bill at the plenary session scheduled for 2 p.m. that day. Kim Tae-nyeon, Acting Party Leader of the Democratic Party, said at the Central Election Countermeasures Committee, "The opposition party's irresponsible demands for cuts are causing difficulties in reaching an agreement on the supplementary budget bill," adding, "We will process the supplementary budget today to provide disaster relief funds." Kim emphasized, "I clearly state that we will persuade the opposition party as much as possible and process the supplementary budget bill today no matter what."

He refrained from commenting on whether the ruling party would pass the bill alone. Choi In-ho, Chief Spokesperson, told reporters after the Central Election Committee meeting, "We are not considering passing the supplementary budget bill alone at all," and added, "We expect cooperation from the opposition party." There is also an opinion that the opposition party would feel burdened to strongly oppose the bill ahead of the election.

On the same day, the ruling and opposition parties held a non-public Small Subcommittee meeting, which does not keep minutes, to discuss the supplementary budget bill. Chu Kyung-ho, the opposition party's floor leader and member of the supplementary budget subcommittee, said in a phone call before the meeting, "We are facing considerable difficulties, and a lot of dialogue and coordination are needed."

Earlier, the ruling and opposition parties failed to narrow their differences during the two-day supplementary budget adjustment subcommittee meetings held from the 22nd. Most projects were left in a 'pending' status when the meetings ended. In particular, opinions on support for street vendors were divided until the last moment. The ruling party proposed increasing the existing support fund (500,000 won) to 700,000 won, but the opposition party suggested a reduction. It is practically difficult to ascertain whether street vendors' sales have decreased, making the execution plan inadequate, and it is also unclear whether street vendors will register as business operators subject to tax obligations in the future just to receive temporary support funds.

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