Han Byung-do, Chairman of the National Assembly's Special Committee on Budget and Accounts, and Democratic Party floor leader Lee So-young are seen in conversation before the start of the third day of budget review at the National Assembly on November 19. Yonhap NewsThe ruling and opposition parties clashed again on November 21 during the review of next year's budget proposal by the National Assembly's Special Committee on Budget and Accounts, specifically over the Presidential Office's special activity fund budget.

The People Power Party demanded an apology from the Democratic Party for cutting the government's special activity fund budget during the budget review last year under the Yoon Suk-yeol administration. The Democratic Party, however, insisted on maintaining the original budget.

Rep. Kim Dae-sik of the People Power Party stated at the budget review subcommittee meeting that day, regarding the Presidential Office's special activity fund, "When you were the opposition party, you drastically cut the special activity funds. But now that you've gained power, you find them necessary. Shouldn't there at least be an expression of regret?"

Rep. Cho Jeong-hoon of the same party asked, "Didn't the Legislation and Judiciary Committee change the Ministry of Justice's special activity fund to special operational expenses (특경비) that require proof and approve it?" He added, "Does the Presidential Office have no intention of converting some of this amount to special operational expenses?"

Conversely, Rep. Lee So-young, the ruling party's floor leader for the Special Committee on Budget and Accounts, said, "This is the first administration to disclose the details of the Presidential Office's special activity fund usage among past governments." She continued, "The Lee Jae-myung administration is showing its willingness to improve the highly opaque special activity funds of previous governments, so I hope the budget is maintained as originally proposed this time."

Rep. Noh Jong-myeon commented, "Considering the confidentiality and political sensitivity of the Presidential Office, it is difficult to make a simple comparison with other ministries." He added, "Since there has been an expression of position from the Presidential Office, I hope we can achieve consensus through focused deliberation."

This refers to Presidential Secretary Woo Sang-ho's statement in July, when the People Power Party protested the inclusion of the Presidential Office's special activity funds in the supplementary budget proposal, saying, "Regardless of the circumstances, we are sorry to the public for the change in our position."

The budget related to the Presidential Office's special activity funds was ultimately put on hold due to continued disagreements between the ruling and opposition parties.

The review of the Presidential Office's public relations budget was also postponed as the ruling and opposition parties failed to narrow their differences.

Rep. Choi Hyung-du of the People Power Party stated, "As the budget is being prepared even while increasing national debt, the Presidential Office should set an example of frugality." He questioned, "Isn't the Presidential Office excessively intervening in the government's normal operations, such as cabinet meetings?"

In contrast, Rep. Noh Jong-myeon of the Democratic Party argued, "The Lee Jae-myung administration launched without a transition committee and needs to gather public opinion as it implements policies."

In addition, the ruling and opposition parties continued to clash over the Ministry of Unification's unification education and North Korea support projects.

Rep. Kang Seung-kyu of the People Power Party demanded a budget cut for school unification education projects, stating, "There is a possibility that the current administration's Ministry of Unification, which aims for 'two states,' could instill a distorted view of North-South unification."

Conversely, Rep. Song Gi-heon of the Democratic Party argued, "Future generations have low awareness of unification, making this budget even more important." He added, "It must be maintained."

Rep. Han Byung-do, chairman of the Special Committee on Budget and Accounts and a member of the Democratic Party, pointed out, "I regret that proposals for drastic cuts or opposition were made without specific evaluations of the projects."

Yonhap News