Democratic Party and People Power Party on 'Lee's Participation in Ruling and Opposition Council': "Expressing Intention for Supplementary Budget Comes First"

by Jeong Donghoon

Published 02 Feb.2025 12:47(KST)

Kim Yoon-deok, Secretary General of the Democratic Party of Korea, is speaking at a press conference held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on the morning of the 2nd. Photo by Yonhap News

The Democratic Party of Korea stated on the 2nd that in response to People Power Party floor leader Kwon Seong-dong's request for Lee Jae-myung to participate in the ruling-opposition-government policy consultation body, "Logically, expressing the intention to proceed with a supplementary budget because people’s livelihoods are difficult should come first."

Kim Yoon-duk, the party secretary-general, said at a press briefing at the National Assembly on the same day, "Our basic position is that we should do whatever we can, whether it is the ruling-opposition-government (policy) consultation body or anything else, but we ask the People Power Party and the government to clearly state their position on the supplementary budget." Kim emphasized, "As you saw during this holiday, the voices of the people saying 'Please revive the economy' and 'We need to make a living to have a future' are loud, so I would like to reiterate that the Democratic Party’s position is to do whatever we can."

Floor leader Kwon said at a press briefing at the National Assembly on the same day, "If Lee is sincere about people’s livelihoods, he should return to the ruling-opposition-government consultation body first." Kwon pointed out, "Lee hinted at giving up the 'Nationwide 250,000 won local gift certificate' and acted magnanimously by saying 'Only the supplementary budget can revive the dying livelihood economy,' but he is the very person who stopped the heartbeat of the livelihood economy."

Earlier, on the 31st of last month, Lee posted on Facebook that if the government and ruling party oppose the 'Nationwide 250,000 won Livelihood Recovery Support Fund' and the supplementary budget is not formed, he would not include it in the supplementary budget demands.