Woo Won-sik "Will Quickly Draft Supplementary Budget to Avoid Missing Timely Supplementary Budget"

Woo Won-sik National Assembly Speaker's New Year's Address
"Will Do Our Best to Quickly Resolve Emergency Martial Law and Stabilize the National Assembly"

On the 1st, Speaker of the National Assembly Woo Won-sik stated, "We are currently in the midst of an intense process to restore and strengthen democracy," adding, "I will carry out the work of the National Assembly with respect for our people, who have become the greatest and brightest light by uniting their earnest hearts at every turning point in history."

In his New Year's address that day, Speaker Woo said, "As I watch the sunrise piercing through the cold air, I make a firmer resolution with a more earnest heart than ever before," and added, "I will work even harder."

He also expressed his commitment to doing his best to stabilize state affairs. Speaker Woo said, "The National Assembly will do its utmost to promptly resolve the emergency martial law situation and stabilize state affairs," and "The National Assembly and the government will cooperate to pool efforts for restoring external credibility, economic recovery, and the restoration of people’s livelihoods."

He particularly emphasized the necessity of drafting a supplementary budget. Speaker Woo stated, "Along with the early execution of this year’s main budget, it is urgent to swiftly draft a supplementary budget to inject vitality into the frozen economy," and added, "The National Assembly will work closely with financial authorities to ensure timely supplementary budgeting is not missed."

He also revealed, "We will accelerate discussions on economic bills to strengthen the competitiveness of our companies and industries, as well as livelihood bills to alleviate the hardships of the people."

Speaker Woo Won-shik is speaking at the National Assembly on the 31st, meeting with representatives from both ruling and opposition parties. Photo by Kim Hyun-min

Regarding the restoration of overseas trust, he said, "In January, a special bipartisan delegation of lawmakers will visit major countries to explain the current situation and response plans," and added, "The Speaker’s office will expand invitation diplomacy and strengthen communication with foreign diplomatic envoys in Korea to support the restoration of diplomatic trust."

He reaffirmed his determination to restore democracy by ensuring that procedures such as the impeachment trial of President Yoon Seok-yeol proceed without disruption. Speaker Woo said, "As the petitioner in the impeachment trial, the National Assembly will faithfully ensure that related procedures proceed without any setbacks," and added, "Democracy can be fully restored along with the restoration of the damaged constitutional order."

Below is the full text of Speaker Woo’s New Year's address.

Dear respected citizens, the New Year 2025 has dawned.

How hard you all worked last year. Everyone truly made great efforts. This year, we greet the New Year with a heavy heart. In addition to the national crisis of the emergency martial law situation, there was also a passenger plane disaster. Everyone is experiencing great sorrow and pain. I offer my deepest condolences to those who lost beloved family members and acquaintances. I pray for the recovery of the survivors.

Watching the sunrise piercing through the cold air, I make a firmer resolution with a more earnest heart than ever before. These are difficult times in many ways. While we will do our best to overcome the crisis, it will be a tough year for our people. To ease that hardship even a little, the National Assembly will work harder. I believe that the strength for Korea to move forward and the role of politics come from the lives of the people. The more difficult it is, the closer we will be to the people; the more chaotic it is, the more we will work on the side of the people. I will work even harder.

We are currently in the midst of an intense process to restore and strengthen democracy. This year is especially significant as it marks the 80th anniversary of Liberation (Gwangbok). We reflect on the meaning of that day when, despite long years of hardship, the will for independence was not lost and sovereignty was finally restored. At the end of last year, we wrote another history of liberation by lighting the darkness with light and opening a new path, and that pride belongs entirely to the people. At every turning point in history, I will carry out the work of the National Assembly with respect for our people, who have become the greatest and brightest light by uniting their earnest hearts. Democracy must be proven through the lives of the people, and livelihood and democracy are one. The National Assembly will take the lead in practicing this.

At hand, the National Assembly will do its utmost to promptly resolve the emergency martial law situation and stabilize state affairs. The National Assembly and the government will cooperate to pool efforts for restoring external credibility, economic recovery, and the restoration of people’s livelihoods. Along with the early execution of this year’s main budget, it is urgent to swiftly draft a supplementary budget to inject vitality into the frozen economy. Since this year’s economic growth rate is expected to fall below the potential growth rate of 2%, a supplementary budget is essential to defend against the decline in growth. The National Assembly will work closely with financial authorities to ensure timely supplementary budgeting is not missed. We will also accelerate discussions on economic bills to strengthen the competitiveness of our companies and industries, as well as livelihood bills to alleviate the hardships of the people.

Through proactive parliamentary diplomacy, we will fill the government’s diplomatic vacuum and strive to restore trust in the international community. The United States is undergoing a leadership change, and the world order is in transition. This is a time when the country’s diplomatic power must be most fully exercised. We must also resolve international concerns arising from the recent situation. This is also an active request from the business community. Immediately after the lifting of the emergency martial law last year, I sent letters to parliaments around the world asking for trust and support for Korean democracy. In January, a special bipartisan delegation of lawmakers will visit major countries to explain the current situation and response plans. The Speaker’s office will expand invitation diplomacy and strengthen communication with foreign diplomatic envoys in Korea to support the restoration of diplomatic trust. We will actively support the successful hosting of the APEC summit to be held in Gyeongju this October.

Above all, we must resolve the instability of state affairs. Prolonged uncertainty is a great burden on the entire country. It is a prerequisite for restoring external credibility and economic stability. As the petitioner in the impeachment trial, the National Assembly will faithfully ensure that related procedures proceed without any setbacks. We will also fulfill the National Assembly’s role in thoroughly investigating the truth and holding those responsible accountable. Democracy can be fully restored along with the restoration of the damaged constitutional order.

In difficult times, a warm word or a gesture of consideration becomes a strong force that protects me, my family, and our community. “Thank you for your hard work!”, “Let’s do this together!”, “It will be fine!”, “Thanks to you!” I hope that these encouraging and supportive words become more common in our daily lives. The future of Korea, our hope, lies with the people. Hope is powerful.

Dear citizens, Happy New Year.