"Deputy Prime Minister Can Now Focus on Economic Issues"
Choi Sang-mok, Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs and Minister of Strategy and Finance, met separately with Acting President and Prime Minister Han Deok-su for 20 minutes on the 24th, the first day of Han’s return. The government stated on the same day that the ruling and opposition parties should present guidelines agreed upon at the National Policy Council regarding the supplementary budget (supplementary budget) formulation.
Acting President and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo attended the Cabinet Members Meeting held at the Government Seoul Office on the 24th, greeting Cabinet members including Choi Sang-mok, Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs and Minister of Economy and Finance. Photo by Yonhap News
Kang Young-gyu, spokesperson for the Ministry of Strategy and Finance, held a regular briefing at the Government Complex Sejong on the same day and explained, "(Acting President Han and Deputy Prime Minister Choi) had a private tea time together around 11:10," adding, "They met for 20 minutes and then attended a luncheon meeting with all cabinet members."
When asked if there was any message from Deputy Prime Minister Choi regarding Prime Minister Han’s return, Spokesperson Kang said, "It is not appropriate for the Ministry of Strategy and Finance to comment." However, he added, "Personally, I think the Deputy Prime Minister can now focus on economic issues," and "It is expected that he will be able to make more efforts toward normal responses and economic recovery for the people."
Regarding concerns about difficulties that may arise if the Deputy Prime Minister is absent amid the opposition’s filing of an impeachment motion against him, Kang said, "If the Deputy Prime Minister is absent, the First Vice Minister will have to act as the deputy," and expressed concern that "all meetings chaired by the Deputy Prime Minister are likely to be chaired by the First Vice Minister, and meetings where the Vice Minister gathers ministers from other departments may not go well."
He continued, "In that case, meetings chaired by the Deputy Prime Minister could be downgraded to vice minister-level meetings, and it is questionable whether decisions can be made quickly there," adding, "This is a personal opinion and has not been reviewed by the Ministry of Strategy and Finance."
Meanwhile, Spokesperson Kang said regarding the ruling and opposition parties’ demand to formulate the supplementary budget by the end of this month, "(Having supplementary budget guidelines) allows the budget to be formulated without confusion," and "(Because) the ruling and opposition parties have reached some agreement, the passage through the National Assembly can be swift and easy."
He mentioned, "At the last National Policy Council, there was a consensus to focus on three areas for the supplementary budget formulation, and at the working-level meeting of the National Policy Council, it was discussed and announced to set specific guidelines," adding, "If guidelines are given, the government will formulate the budget accordingly." He emphasized again, "The government’s view is that guidelines must be set on the National Policy Council track to expedite the supplementary budget."
When asked whether the government would not submit the supplementary budget proposal if the guidelines agreed upon at the National Policy Council are not presented, he expressed the opinion that "it would be difficult to submit." Spokesperson Kang explained, "(To formulate the supplementary budget) ministries must request supplementary budget funds, and the Budget Office of the Ministry of Strategy and Finance must negotiate with the ministries, but this is not simple," adding, "Many ministries are involved, so without guidelines, there could be confusion."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
