Hong Ik-pyo: "If No Agreement with Government and Ruling Party, 'Democratic Party Budget Bill' Will Be Passed Unilaterally"

"Youth Tomorrow Savings, Local Love Gift Certificates Budget Cut
Criticism of Ruthless Budget Rejecting Youth Ladder and Vulnerable Groups"

Hong Ik-pyo, floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, said on the 6th regarding the delay in the passage of next year's budget, "If there is no agreement with the government and the ruling party, the Democratic Party will process the budget prepared by itself even if it is unilaterally."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

At the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly that day, Floor Leader Hong stated, "I will definitely process the budget within this regular session of the National Assembly."

Regarding the People Power Party leadership's briefing after having lunch with President Yoon Seok-yeol the previous day, in which they said, "We decided to seek cooperation from the opposition party for the passage of next year's budget," Floor Leader Hong said, "If this is an alibi to hide past mistakes and push through a 'shoddy budget,' I hope they give up," and demanded, "Show a sincere attitude toward the livelihood and future budget proposed by the Democratic Party."

Floor Leader Hong pointed out, "President Yoon has emphasized 'science and technology, youth, vulnerable groups, and the local era' whenever he had the chance, but the budget is the exact opposite," adding, "Not only did they cut the research and development (R&D) budget, which was increased even during the IMF crisis, to the largest scale ever, but they also cut 420 billion won for the Youth Tomorrow Savings Program, 240 billion won for the Youth Job Leap Incentive, and 13.4 billion won for rare disease patient support."

He also criticized, "They abolished the senior citizens' cultural activity support project and did not allocate any budget for local love gift certificates," saying, "They kicked away the youth ladder and rejected the hands extended by vulnerable groups and local communities with a heartless budget."

He then emphasized, "The Democratic Party has been ready to negotiate for a long time," and urged, "The government and the ruling party should actively cooperate so that the budget can be passed within the regular session of the National Assembly."