Democratic Party Split Over Prosecutors' Special Activity Funds... Supplementary Budget Plenary Session Delayed

Differences have arisen within the Democratic Party of Korea over the "prosecutors' special activity funds" included in the supplementary budget bill, causing delays in the bill's passage.

Yonhap News

On July 4, the Democratic Party approved the supplementary budget bill totaling approximately 31.8 trillion won, which includes 10.5 billion won in special activity funds for four agencies: the Office of the President, the Ministry of Justice, the Board of Audit and Inspection, and the National Police Agency, in the National Assembly Special Committee on Budget and Accounts.

Initially, the party planned to convene a plenary session immediately to pass the supplementary budget bill. However, just before the plenary session, objections were raised within the party regarding the inclusion of the prosecutors' special activity funds. It is reported that, during a closed-door caucus, many lawmakers expressed opposition, arguing that there was no justification for restoring the prosecutors' special activity funds.

It is said that floor leader Kim Byungki suspended the caucus, stating that he would prepare a plan reflecting the opinions within the party, and conveyed to National Assembly Speaker Woo Wonsik the intention to postpone the plenary session to around 8 p.m.

On the same day, floor spokesperson Kim Hyunjung told reporters, "The prosecutors' special activity funds can only be used with the approval of the Minister of Justice, and since the ministerial candidate is Representative Jung Sungho from our party, the funds can be controlled according to the attached opinion." She added, "The reason we cut the special activity funds at the end of last year was due to a lack of transparency and because the Yoon Suk-yeol administration did not provide documentation in accordance with the guidelines."

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