Opposition Absence Leaves City Administration Speech 'Half-Empty'... Frozen Political Climate

Silent protest holding hand signs... Opposition says "Yoon doesn't even look" in frustration
Lee Jae-myung wearing black necktie... "I will fight to the end with the people"
Concerns over difficulties from the start of the first budget review under Yoon administration

President Yoon Suk-yeol is entering the plenary session hall on the 25th to deliver the budget address for the next year. The Democratic Party of Korea defined the prosecution's investigation into Daejang-dong as political retaliation and boycotted President Yoon's budget address. Photo by Yoon Dong-ju doso7@

[Asia Economy reporters Lee Ji-eun, Park Joon-yi, Kwon Hyun-ji] On the 25th, President Yoon Seok-yeol's State of the Union address on next year's budget proposal held at the National Assembly was reduced to a 'half measure' due to the absence of the major opposition party, the Democratic Party of Korea. While ruling party lawmakers responded with 19 rounds of applause during the 18-minute speech by President Yoon, opposition lawmakers fully boycotted the address and greeted the president with protest slogans and silent demonstrations on the rotunda hall stairs of the National Assembly. With the political climate rapidly freezing due to intense investigations, concerns are rising that the review of next year's budget proposal will face difficulties from the outset.

Democratic Party lawmakers lined up on both sides of the rotunda hall in front of the plenary session hall and held hand signs protesting the search and seizure as President Yoon entered. Before his entrance, they shouted slogans such as "Neglecting people's livelihood, oppressing the opposition, condemning the Yoon Seok-yeol administration!" and "Insulting the National Assembly, President must apologize for abusive language!" After President Yoon entered the National Assembly, they switched to a 'silent protest.' However, when President Yoon showed little reaction, some lawmakers expressed frustration, saying, "He doesn't even look at us."

The Democratic Party's decision to boycott the State of the Union address for the first time in constitutional history is closely related to the party's situation, where the prosecution's investigation into party leader Lee Jae-myung's presidential campaign funds allegations is tightening its net. Despite Lee proposing a 'special prosecutor for Daejang-dong' and the Democratic Party already hinting at boycotting the address, the prosecution's forced search of the Democratic Research Institute within the party headquarters the day before had a decisive impact. At the pre-address party meeting, Lee appeared wearing a black tie and stated, "This incident is a declaration of war rejecting normal politics and intending to reign above the people's constitution," adding, "We will fight to the end with the people."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The Democratic Party also boycotted not only the State of the Union address but also the pre-discussion meeting between President Yoon and National Assembly Speaker Kim Jin-pyo. Kim Seong-hwan, chairman of the Democratic Party's Policy Committee, is expected to hold a press conference at 1:30 p.m. to deliver sharp criticism of President Yoon's address.

The People Power Party strongly criticized the opposition's boycott of the address. Emergency Response Committee Chairman Jeong Jin-seok said to reporters immediately after the speech, "In over 20 years of politics, I have never seen the opposition treat the president's New Year's budget address to the National Assembly so carelessly," adding, "This is a speech to the people. I deeply regret the attitude of the main opposition party in treating the new government's first budget address in this manner."

Joo Ho-young, floor leader of the People Power Party, also said at the party's floor strategy meeting, "The State of the Union address is a place where the government explains its position to the people through their representatives in the National Assembly and seeks understanding," adding, "It is highly inappropriate and even violates the National Assembly Act for the opposition to declare a boycott, linking it to political issues as if not participating in the address were a privilege."

In his address, President Yoon emphasized, "There is no distinction between ruling and opposition parties in overcoming economic and security crises," and "Cooperation from the National Assembly is essential," but evaluations suggest that prospects for bipartisan cooperation have disappeared. The review of next year's budget, which officially began on this day, is increasingly unlikely to meet the legal deadline scheduled for December 2. To meet the deadline, the review must be completed by the end of next month, but the budget review is expected to deteriorate into a 'political battleground,' leading to rushed or disrupted deliberations. The government's organizational reform plan, which includes abolishing the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, and the tax reform plan?both key election pledges of the Yoon administration?also face uncertain prospects for passage in the National Assembly. The ruling party can blame the opposition for rushed reviews or failure to pass election pledges, while the opposition may feel increased pressure over responsibility, making the political calculations between the two parties even more complicated.

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