South Korea Budget Battle Heats Up as Opposition Party Walks Out
Tensions flared in South Korea’s National Assembly as the ruling Democratic Party pressed ahead with a budget plan, triggering a walkout by the opposition People Power Party. The controversial budget, which slashes funds earmarked for sensitive areas like prosecutorial investigations and special security, is now poised for a final vote in the full assembly on December 2nd.
The clash highlights a deeper political rift in the country, with the opposition accusing the ruling party of using the budget to shield its leader, Lee Jae-myeong, from ongoing prosecutorial scrutiny.
Members of the Budget Coordination Sub-Committee prepare for a meeting on the controversial budget. Yonhap News 
The Democratic Party, holding a majority in the assembly, approved a revised budget that cuts 4.1 trillion won (about $3 billion USD) from the government’s initial proposal.
Notable reductions target specific areas. “Special operating expenses” for the President’s secretary and National Security Office face a 8.251 billion won reduction. Similarly, "special police costs,” linked to prosecutorial investigations, see a significant cut of 50.691 billion won
The opposition People Power Party vehemently opposed these moves. Representative Kwak Gyu-taek questioned the motives behind the cuts. "Do you feel relieved if we unilaterally cut special operations expenses and special police expenses to anger Representative Lee Jae-myeong, who is being investigated by prosecutors?” he asked.
Representative Koo Ja-geun, the ruling party’s secretary of the Budget and Accounts Committee, also expressed skepticism, suggesting "pressure from higher people" was at play in shaping the budget.
Democratic Party members defended their actions. Jang Gyeong-tae emphasized the lack of transparency regarding the “special activity costs,” stating “We have always stated that it is just a lump of money, but no attempt has been made to explain (the charge).”
With the budget bill out of the committee stage, the possibility of further negotiations before the full assembly vote remains. A compromise could emerge over the weekend, leading to amendments. However, the Speaker of the National Assembly could also choose to push the bill forward, potentially further escalating the political standoff.
Adding to the drama, after the budget bill cleared the committee, with People Power Party members already departed, Committee Chairman Park Jeong, a Democratic Party member, requested a response from Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Strategy and Finance Choi Sang-mok. Choi remained silent, prompting Chairman Park to quip, "I will accept it as an exchange of silence."
Later addressing reporters, Deputy Prime Minister Choi voiced his disappointment. “It is very unfortunate and very regrettable that the opposition party independently processed the change of budget reduction,” he said. Choi urged the opposition to reconsider and work towards a mutually agreeable budget plan.
This budget battle is closely watched by political observers as a potential showdown between the ruling and opposition parties, and its outcome could have significant ramifications for South Korea’s domestic politics in the coming year.
2024-11-30 15:22:00
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## The People’s Money: A Battle for Control in South Korea’s Budget Dispute
**World Today News Exclusive Interview with Professor Kim Sung-min, Political Science expert from Seoul National University**
**World Today News:** Professor Kim, thank you for joining us today. The South Korean National Assembly is in turmoil over the proposed 2025 budget.Can you help our readers understand the key points of contention?
**Professor Kim:** Certainly. This budget dispute is about much more than just numbers.It reflects a deep political divide in South Korea and exposes a struggle for power and influence between the ruling Democratic Party and the opposition People Power Party.
**World Today News:** What are some of the specific budgetary allocations causing the most friction?
**professor Kim:** The People Power Party is fiercely criticizing the reduction in funds allocated to prosecutorial investigations and special security forces. They argue this is a blatant attempt by the ruling party to shield its leader, Lee Jae-myeong, from ongoing legal scrutiny and potential corruption charges.
**World Today news:** The Democratic Party claims these cuts are aimed at streamlining government spending and prioritizing other social programs. How does this argument hold up?
**Professor Kim:** Its a complex issue. While the Democratic Party may have valid reasons for seeking budget reallocations, the timing and the specific areas targeted raise eyebrows. The optics are damaging, and the opposition’s accusations of political interference resonate with many voters.
**World Today News:** The opposition party walked out of budget deliberations, effectively stalling the process.What are the implications of this move?
**Professor Kim:** This signifies a hardening of positions and an escalation of tensions. The walkout might pressure the Democratic Party to reconsider some of its budgetary choices, but it also risks further polarizing the political landscape and undermining public trust in the legislative process.
**World Today News:** Looking ahead, what are your predictions for the budget’s fate and the broader implications for South Korean politics?
**Professor Kim:** The budget is expected to pass, albeit with a lot of acrimony. Though, this dispute will leave lasting scars on the political landscape. It has deepened the already existing divide between the two parties and fueled public distrust in their ability to cooperate and prioritize national interests above partisan agendas.
This battle over the budget is more than just about numbers; it’s a microcosm of the larger struggle for power and influence in South Korea, a struggle that has implications for the country’s stability and future direction.
**World Today News:** Professor Kim, thank you for your insightful analysis.
**professor Kim:** My pleasure.
