Democratic Party, Is the Supreme Court Budget Increase to Shield Lee Jae-myung?..."90% of the Increase Is for Public Defender Budget"

The Democratic Party of Korea rebutted the claim that the increase in the court-related budget is a 'bulletproof budget,' stating that it is not true. Most of the increase in the court budget is for supporting public defenders.

On the 8th, ruling party lawmakers are requesting the floor from Chairman Jeong Cheong-rae during the full meeting of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee held at the National Assembly. Photo by Kim Hyun-min

Kang Yoo-jung, the Democratic Party floor spokesperson, said on the 13th, "The People Power Party has been making outrageous remarks, claiming that the increase of 24.131 billion KRW in the Supreme Court's budget is a 'populist budget'," adding, "The increase in the Supreme Court budget is not a populist increase. Nearly 90% of the increased budget, 21.714 billion KRW, is allocated for supporting public defenders."

Earlier, Han Dong-hoon, leader of the People Power Party, held an 'Emergency Countermeasure Meeting to Prevent Judicial Interference' the day before and stated, "While throwing a populist budget at the courts, they also utter disparaging remarks about judges, and Democratic Party lawmakers even hold protests. It is unbelievable that all these actions are being carried out to obstruct fair and just rulings." In a statement released by the People Power Party spokesperson the previous day, it was also said, "The Democratic Party's sudden increase in the judiciary's budget raises suspicions that they are trying to appease the courts with the budget ahead of the first trial verdict of leader Lee Jae-myung."

Regarding this, Kang, the floor spokesperson, explained, "How can resolving trial delays and improving the environment be considered a populist budget?" and added, "Moreover, both ruling and opposition parties agreed on the necessity of these items." She continued, "In addition, 2 billion KRW is an increase to establish projects for the protection and support of the elderly, and 500 million KRW is a budget to improve rest facilities for court cleaning workers," and said, "I hope the People Power Party responsibly explains where in this budget there is any populist budget for the courts."