President Yoon Seok-yeol Responds to Democratic Party's Summit Proposal: "Passing the Supplementary Budget Comes First"

President Yoon Suk-yeol delivered a policy speech on the morning of the 16th at the National Assembly plenary session hall in Yeouido, Seoul, requesting the prompt passage of the supplementary budget bill to compensate small business owners and self-employed individuals affected by COVID-19. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daehyun] President Yoon Suk-yeol expressed that he could meet with Yoon Ho-jung, the co-chair of the Democratic Party of Korea's Emergency Response Committee, regarding the proposal for a 'summit meeting,' stating, "If the National Assembly first passes the supplementary budget bill (추경), then a meeting can take place."

On the 28th, Kang In-seon, spokesperson for the Presidential Office, said in a written briefing, "If the leadership of both parties discusses and requests a meeting, (President Yoon) is willing to respond at any time," but "Since the passage of the supplementary budget bill in the National Assembly is urgent, it is preferable to expedite the processing of the supplementary budget first and then discuss any additional matters that need to be addressed."

She added, "Also, please note that the term 'summit meeting' is a phrase from the past era when the president effectively served as the head of the ruling party, and the president does not consider himself a 'summit leader'."

Earlier, Co-chair Yoon proposed to President Yoon, "I suggest a summit meeting to discuss the implementation plan for retroactive application of (COVID-19 loss compensation) promised during the presidential election."

At a campaign rally supporting Na So-yeol, the candidate for the National Assembly from Boryeong-Seocheon, Chungnam, and Lee Young-woo, the candidate for mayor of Boryeong, Yoon said, "For a complete compensation plan that retroactively applies loss compensation and to pass the supplementary budget bill, let's hold a meeting even tomorrow morning."

Originally, the ruling and opposition parties planned to hold a plenary session of the National Assembly on the same day to process the supplementary budget bill, but they failed to find common ground on the key issue of retroactive application of loss compensation and agreed to hold the plenary session on the afternoon of the 29th while continuing negotiations.

Co-chair Yoon stated, "Tomorrow marks the end of the first two years of the National Assembly's term, but the Budget and Accounts Special Committee for the second half has not been formed, nor has the leadership been elected," adding, "If we pass tomorrow as is, we cannot promise when small business owners will be compensated and supported." He also said, "Candidates from both parties promised retroactive application of loss compensation during the presidential election, and to keep that promise, the National Assembly has been discussing for days, yet yesterday President Yoon said, 'I didn't expect the National Assembly to be this uncooperative.' Does that make sense?"