Oh Se-hoon: "Democratic Party's 'Budget Manipulation'... Customized Increase for Lee Jae-myung, Cuts to Important Budgets"

"Budget Cuts for Nuclear Power Technology and Mapo Incineration Plant"

On the 22nd, Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon criticized the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) for cutting necessary budgets such as the Mapo incineration plant while increasing budgets related to Representative Lee Jae-myung, likening it to 'state affairs manipulation.'

Mayor Oh said on Facebook that "the DPK, which has turned the National Assembly into a legislative dictatorship of the giant opposition, has now reduced the budget review to a 'scene of outrage.'

The 100th National Council of Provincial and Metropolitan Education Superintendents General Assembly was held on the 21st at the Grand Hyatt Seoul, hosted by the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education. Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon is greeting the attending superintendents. Photo by Heo Young-han

Mayor Oh pointed out, "(The DPK) cut 90% of the research and development budget for the next-generation nuclear power technology, the Sodium-cooled Fast Reactor (SFR), and slashed the budgets of investigative agencies such as the prosecution, police, and Board of Audit and Inspection," adding, "On the other hand, they newly allocated 2 trillion won for Lee Jae-myung-style local currency and increased the court budget by 24.1 billion won to pressure the judiciary. This is a 'customized budget manipulation' for Representative Lee."

He also emphasized that the budget for the new Mapo incineration plant, which Seoul City is promoting, was cut by the local district lawmaker citing 'local selfishness.' Mayor Oh said, "Representative Jung Cheong-rae, who represents the Mapo district, conspired with Democratic Party members of the Environment and Labor Committee to completely cut the budget for the Mapo Metropolitan Resource Recovery Facility," and questioned, "Is it appropriate for a lawmaker to block a national task of resource recovery facilities amid a surge in waste that needs to be incinerated?"

He continued, "Lawmakers, who should be thinking about the entire nation and planning for the future, are leading the behavior of 'neighborhood politicians,' and the reality that such politicians claim to be the real power of Korea's ruling party is a sad self-portrait of our politics," adding, "Manipulating the budget, which is the foundation of national governance and an investment for the future, with local selfishness is tantamount to manipulating state affairs."

Mayor Oh urged the Democratic Party, "It is time to stop the reckless dance of 'budget manipulation' and return to responsible politics for the nation's future."