First General Assembly Held After Kim Byungki's Election as Floor Leader
Kim: "Livelihood Recovery Support Payment Is a Necessity, Not a Choice"
Kim Byungki, acting leader and floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, once again urged cooperation from the People Power Party on June 24 regarding key issues where the two parties are sharply divided, such as the confirmation hearing for Prime Minister nominee Kim Minseok and the review of the supplementary budget bill. He emphasized, "Please put the nation and the people before partisan interests."
After making these remarks at the Democratic Party's general assembly held at the National Assembly that afternoon, Kim stated, "The review of the supplementary budget, confirmation of the prime minister nominee, hearings for cabinet members, and the formation of standing committees are each directly linked to people's livelihoods."
This general assembly was the first to be held since Kim was elected as floor leader. During the meeting, the appointments of key deputy floor leaders?Moon Jinseok (operations), Heo Young (policy), and Park Sanghyuk (communications)?were approved, and the government’s supplementary budget proposal and future parliamentary schedule were reported.
With the floor leadership team now in place, Kim reiterated his commitment to fulfilling the ruling party’s responsibilities. He said, "Last Sunday, President Lee Jaemyung personally invited the ruling and opposition party leaders. I believe this demonstrated a clear intention to place the National Assembly at the center of state affairs. Now it is time for the National Assembly to respond."
Regarding the government’s 30 trillion won supplementary budget proposal submitted to the National Assembly, Kim explained, "This is an urgent budget for economic stimulus and stabilizing people's livelihoods. The public is now calling for measures to revive their livelihoods. The nationwide livelihood recovery support payment is not a choice but a necessity. It is time to breathe new life into local economies, self-employed businesses, and the consumer market."
On the two-day confirmation hearing for nominee Kim, held from June 24 to 25, Kim stressed, "It is only natural that a stable cabinet is essential for the government to function and to respond swiftly to emergency situations," and called for the People Power Party's cooperation in the confirmation process.
He continued, "Neither the budget, nor appointments, nor the National Assembly itself can be resolved without cooperation. Politics that holds people's livelihoods hostage will never earn the trust of the public."
Kim particularly emphasized, "Each of these issues?the supplementary budget review, the confirmation of the prime minister, the cabinet member hearings, and the formation of standing committees?is directly tied to people's livelihoods. The government can only function and people's livelihoods can only recover if the National Assembly operates properly. We cannot delay any longer. At this moment, speed is the most important factor," he said emphatically.
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