"Let's Discuss the 2nd Supplementary Budget Immediately"…Democratic Party Differentiates with Focus on Livelihood Issues

Yun Hojung "Welcomes 2nd Supplementary Budget for Elected Officials"
Focus on Completing Prosecution and Political Reform

[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Ju-yeon] The Democratic Party of Korea has differentiated itself from the People Power Party, which is focused on the ‘presidential office relocation,’ by emphasizing the resolution of current issues such as the livelihood-focused National Assembly, political reform, and prosecution reform. As the ruling and opposition parties have been clashing over the Yongsan relocation issue for a week, public fatigue is mounting. With the tight schedule to elect the floor leader on the 24th, complete reform tasks before the new government’s inauguration, and the June local elections, there is a concern that this could only lead to negative public opinion of a ‘mud-slinging fight.’

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 23rd, Yoon Ho-jung, the Democratic Party’s emergency committee chairman, stated at the morning emergency committee meeting, "The Democratic Party will take the lead in the ‘livelihood National Assembly’ that breathes new life into people’s daily lives." Unlike before, when the party criticized the relocation of the presidential office to Yongsan with expressions such as ‘not a lame duck but an inauguration duck,’ ‘a pitiful situation,’ and ‘regrettable,’ it is now focusing on livelihood and political issues. The Democratic Party plans to devote all efforts to completing prosecution reform and accelerating political reform, which has been repeatedly stalled, before the new government takes office.

Chairman Yoon pointed out, "Currently, the People Power Party is not only opposing the introduction of a multi-member district system for basic councilors but is also obstructing by insisting on returning to the single-member district system. In their stronghold regions, they are stubbornly demanding an increase in the number of metropolitan councilors." He emphasized, "The Democratic Party will unwaveringly fulfill the historic mission of political reform requested by the people so that this local election becomes the starting point of political change." To this end, Chairman Yoon plans to meet with Lee Young-guk, leader of the Justice Party, in the afternoon to discuss political reform.

Regarding prosecution reform, he reiterated, "The Democratic Party will firmly hold the reins to ensure that prosecution reform does not regress under the Yoon Seok-yeol administration." He added, "The core of prosecution reform is the decentralization of power and the separation of prosecution and investigation rights for institutional checks and balances. We will boldly pursue prosecution reform."

He also requested cooperation from the People Power Party for the second supplementary budget (supplementary budget) to support small business owners. He said, "Although Yoon’s official announcement of the second supplementary budget was late, it is welcome. Since the ruling and opposition parties have agreed on the supplementary budget, let’s start related discussions immediately, even today."

Additionally, the Democratic Party plans to actively pursue the Korean-style PPP system, amendments to the Commercial Lease Protection Act to address damages to self-employed and small business owners caused by COVID-19, and amendments to the Small Business Support Act.

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