The Democratic Party of Korea and the People Power Party clashed over the presidential candidacy rumors of acting Prime Minister Han Duck-soo during the National Assembly's Special Committee on Budget and Accounts comprehensive policy inquiry.
At the Budget and Accounts Committee meeting held on the 29th to review the supplementary budget plan, the Democratic Party of Korea and the Rebuilding Korea Party criticized Han Duck-soo for not attending the committee meeting again on the same day following his absence the previous day. In contrast, the People Power Party targeted Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party’s presidential candidate.
Democratic Party lawmaker Hwang Jeong-a said, “Han Duck-soo has been an accomplice and collaborator of Yoon Suk-yeol's tyranny for three years,” adding, “The fact that this incompetent anti-constitutional individual, who has committed unconstitutional acts to undermine the Constitutional Court, dreams of running for president is nothing but a ridiculous comedy for the public.”
Another party member, Joo Cheol-hyun, stated, “The candidacy of the acting Prime Minister Han is an attempt to continue the unreasonable, shameless, and oblivious behavior by taking the national confusion hostage,” and added, “It is also a reflection of Yoon Suk-yeol, who has forgotten his duties and recklessly treats public office for his personal ambitions.”
Rebuilding Korea Party lawmaker Hwang Un-ha mentioned Danjae Shin Chae-ho, saying, “Yoon Suk-yeol committed treason with the authority he had, but Han Duck-soo is committing greater treason with the authority he does not have.”
In contrast, People Power Party lawmaker Han Gi-ho noted, “Democratic Party candidate Lee Jae-myung is undergoing five trials with 12 charges related to eight incidents,” and added, “What face does the Democratic Party have to criticize Han's candidacy when it made such a person a candidate?” He remarked, “It is exactly true that while one can see the speck in another's eye, they cannot see the plank in their own.”
Lawmaker Kim Seong-won said, “There is talk among corporations that the three major risks to our economy are ‘trade crisis from the U.S., trade with China, and the Lee Jae-myung risk,’” noting, “Corporations feel that they do not have trust in him and that his consistency is lacking.”
The Democratic Party of Korea and the People Power Party also clashed over the scale of the supplementary budget and other fiscal policy trends.
Democratic Party lawmaker Wi Seong-gon stated, “The public thinks the reason for the supplementary budget is to respond to the economy and to revitalize it, but it seems the government thinks entirely differently,” adding, “Isn't it stuck in the frame of demonizing fiscal (expenditure) throughout the Yoon Suk-yeol regime? Isn’t it missing the reality by falling into the frame of needing to adhere to fiscal rules?”
Lawmaker Jeong Il-young mentioned, “The proposed supplementary budget is very late and small,” stating, “Given how difficult the economy is, this level of supplementary budget cannot revive the economy.”
Conversely, People Power Party lawmaker Han Gi-ho asked, “Who created a situation where budgets that should not be cut must be trimmed to carry out the supplementary budget?” and questioned, “Who is the agitation for the government to raise the supplementary budget, even if it has to incur debt, meant for?”
Another member of the same party, Lee Jong-wook, also commented, “The Moon Jae-in administration carelessly spent the budget under the pretext of COVID-19, resulting in an increase in national debt,” adding, “The Yoon Suk-yeol government has worked hard to normalize the economy and finances, but I worry that if the Democratic Party takes power again, it will try to solve everything with finances.”