Yoon: "Budget deadline passed by half a month... Confirm quickly to ease public hardship"

President Yoon Receives Morning Briefing on National Assembly Situation Regarding 'New Year Budget Proposal'

President Yoon Suk-yeol stated on the 18th, "Please ensure that the budget is promptly finalized so that the difficulties faced by the people can be alleviated even slightly."

President Yoon made this remark after receiving a report on the National Assembly's situation regarding the New Year's budget proposal that morning, according to a written briefing by spokesperson Kim Soo-kyung. On the same morning, President Yoon received a separate report on the budget proposal apart from the President-Chief Secretary meeting.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

In particular, President Yoon expressed concern that delays in the budget approval could cause harm to the public. He said, "The government submitted next year's budget proposal to the National Assembly last September, but today marks more than half a month past the constitutional deadline," adding, "I urge that the next year's budget and livelihood and reform bills be finalized as soon as possible so that the hardships of the people can be eased even a little."

The ruling and opposition parties have agreed to handle next year's budget proposal at the plenary session of the National Assembly on the 20th. Although there remains a gap in positions regarding increases or decreases in major budget items, they have pledged to process the budget regardless of the political situation. The two party floor leaders of the Special Committee on Budget and Accounts have held several private meetings to negotiate the budget proposal, but there has been little change in their stances. However, there is also a possibility of delay due to major political issues. The Democratic Party of Korea is gearing up for special investigations starting with the 5 billion won club allegations and the special prosecutor law for the investigation of Kim Geon-hee's stock manipulation allegations, followed by the Itaewon disaster special law, and three major state audits (Seoul-Yangpyeong highway allegations, Marine Corps Corporal Chae's death in the line of duty, and the Osong underground passage disaster).