Prosecutors' Special Activity Funds Reinstated in Supplementary Budget... Presidential Office Vows Responsible Use and Accountability

Prosecutors' Special Activity Funds Revived in First Supplementary Budget of New Administration
Execution to Follow Completion of Prosecutorial Reform Legislation, According to Supplementary Budget Opinions
Ruling and Opposition Parties Expected to Continue Dispute

The Office of the President has stated that, regarding the inclusion of "prosecutors' special activity funds" in the first supplementary budget (extra budget) of the new administration, "there will be a process of responsible use and explanation in the future."

Yonhap News Agency

On July 5, President Lee Jaemyung presided over an emergency Cabinet meeting at the Yongsan Presidential Office to review and approve the supplementary budget of 31.8 trillion won, which had passed the National Assembly plenary session the previous day (July 4). Kang Yujeong, spokesperson for the Presidential Office, mentioned the reinstatement of the special activity funds during a briefing after the Cabinet meeting, saying, "I am answering an anticipated question."

Spokesperson Kang stated, "The supplementary budget proposal was sent from the National Assembly, and there was a mention of special activity funds in the accompanying opinions." She added, "The Ministry of Justice has said that, in the case of prosecutors' special activity funds, they will only be executed after the completion of prosecutorial reform legislation." She continued, "Taking into account the opinions of the National Assembly, the Ministry of Justice, and the Prosecutors' Office, there will be a process of responsible use and explanation in the future regarding the inclusion of special activity funds."

The Democratic Party of Korea has reinstated a total of 10.5 billion won in special activity funds in this supplementary budget, including 4.1 billion won for the Presidential Office. The special activity funds also include 4 billion won for prosecutorial special activities. Last November, the Democratic Party argued that the absence of special activity funds would not hinder state operations and completely cut the special activity funds from the budget proposal prepared by the Yoon Suk Yeol administration.

Debate between the ruling and opposition parties over the reinstatement of special activity funds is expected to continue for some time. Park Sumin, a lawmaker from the People Power Party, said during discussions on the supplementary budget, "President Lee Jaemyung made the mistake of unilaterally cutting the President's special activity funds," and added, "I ask the President to apologize to the people for this mistake." In response, Lee Soyoung, a Democratic Party lawmaker, pointed out that the previous administration's Presidential Office and Prosecutors' Office did not faithfully submit records of fund usage, saying, "I would like to ask whether a successor should be subject to the same sanctions simply because the predecessor was sanctioned for wrongdoing."