People Power Party: "US Declares Energy Emergency... Energy 3 Acts Must Be Passed in February Special Session"

Kwon Seong-dong Criticizes the Democratic Party's Supplementary Budget Proposal as "Immoral Politics"

The People Power Party urged the passage of the three advanced industry energy bills (the National Power Grid Expansion Act, the High-Level Radioactive Waste Disposal Facility Act, and the Offshore Wind Power Act) during the February extraordinary session of the National Assembly. The People Power Party expressed opposition to the supplementary budget proposed by the opposition parties, including the Democratic Party of Korea, calling it a "cash handout."

Kim Sang-hoon, the Policy Committee Chair of the People Power Party, said at the party's emergency committee meeting held at the National Assembly that day, "As the consensus atmosphere has matured in the relevant standing committees regarding the three energy bills, we must actively cooperate to ensure their passage in the February session of the National Assembly." Kim added, "After taking office, U.S. President Trump declared a national energy emergency in his first executive order," and "some have evaluated this as the U.S. announcing to the world its intention to dramatically increase energy production and seize AI technology sovereignty."

Kwon Young-se, Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, is speaking at the Emergency Response Committee meeting held at the National Assembly on the 23rd. Photo by Kim Hyun-min

Kim also stated, "We are in a much more desperate situation than the U.S., with almost no energy resources and having to stake our national fate on advanced industries such as AI. However, in our country, the 11th Basic Plan for Electricity Supply and Demand has not even been reported to the National Assembly due to the obstinacy of the main opposition party, the Democratic Party, and their blind opposition to nuclear power."

Kwon Seong-dong, the floor leader of the People Power Party, expressed a negative stance on the supplementary budget. Kwon criticized, "Providing 250,000 won gift certificates to all citizens would require a massive budget of about 13 trillion won," and called it "an intention to make future generations debtors for political gain."

He condemned, "This is an act of emptying the national treasury to buy votes, and it is a cash handout with early presidential elections in mind," adding, "How is this different from a parent taking their child's food bowl to fill their own stomach? It is truly immoral politics."

Regarding the Democratic Party's reintroduced 'Local Currency Act Amendment' the previous day, he said, "Such a bill must be absolutely discarded," and "If it passes in the plenary session, we will immediately request the exercise of the right to demand reconsideration."

The Democratic Party reintroduced the Local Currency Act, which was previously rejected after a government request for reconsideration and a re-vote, adding provisos to address the issue of fairness among local governments that had become a point of contention.