[On-site video+] Woo Won-sik, "After deliberation, we decided not to submit the budget bill to the plenary session."

"The legal deadline for deciding the National Assembly's budget for the next year on December 2nd"

"It is difficult to give hope to the people to pass the budget as of now."

"Our economy faces a major crisis both internally and externally."

"The central bank is expected to grow 1% next year and next year."

"The government should pass the budget by December 10, when the regular session of the National Assembly ends."

[Anchor]
National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-sik held an emergency press conference amid an extreme confrontation between the ruling and opposition parties over next year's budget bill.

It was interested in whether the "reduced budget plan," which the Democratic Party of Korea passed alone by the National Assembly's Special Committee on Budget and Accounts, would be presented to the plenary session this afternoon,
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[Woo Won-sik / Speaker of the National Assembly]
My fellow citizens, I am the Speaker of the National Assembly, Woo Won-sik. Today, December 2nd is the legal deadline for the National Assembly to vote on next year's budget only when the National Assembly handles the government's new year's budget. It is the responsibility of the National Assembly to deliberate and finalize the national budget, and the National Assembly is supposed to vote on the budget 30 days before the start of the fiscal year. The budget bill approved by the Special Committee on Budget and Accounts is attached to the plenary session.

However, after much consideration, the Speaker of the National Assembly decided not to present the budget bill to the plenary session today. As a result, we couldn't meet the legal deadline. I am very sorry to the people. The reason why the Speaker of the National Assembly delayed the introduction of the budget bill to the plenary session even though he did not comply with the legal deadline is that it is difficult to give hope to the people at this time. We need to take a deeper look at people's livelihoods.

Now our economy is facing a major crisis both internally and externally. There could be even more difficulties in the lives of the people who are already in need. Recently, the Bank of Korea predicted our economic growth rate next year and the year after next. It's unprecedented.

The gap between the rich and the poor has widened, and the wallets of the middle class and the common people are getting thinner day by day. In every alley, there are constant appeals that Corona was a noble class. The National Assembly is responsible for stabilizing people's livelihoods and the economy and creating a budget for the economically weak and vulnerable to hope. It's a huge responsibility as much as complying with the legal deadline.

I strongly ask the ruling and opposition parties. The budget bill must be processed by December 10, when the regular session of the National Assembly ends. We need to make the country's livelihood a practical force for people's livelihoods and prepare for the future. Please agree on a budget to protect the people and a budget to move toward the future, just like the goal orientation promised to the people by the National Assembly on the 20th. There must be several reasons why the ruling and opposition parties have not reached an agreement.

It is also true that there seems to be a lack of serious and sincere discussions. As the majority party and the ruling party as the ruling party, it is a courtesy to the people to fulfill their responsibilities and duties accordingly. I look forward to and request the best efforts for an agreement. We cannot help but ask how much the government respected and faithfully supported the National Assembly's budget deliberation rights.

We need the government's self-reflection and attitude change. If the budget is delayed, the budget execution of the central government and related local governments will be delayed. In a situation where the economy and people's livelihood stability are urgent, the damage will eventually be to the people, and the responsibility and burden will go to the government, which is the main agent of state administration. I want the government to be more active, doing everything necessary, whether it's explanation or persuasion.

The government should be more eager to expand the budget for people's livelihoods and the future. Again, I ask for more mature discussions between the ruling and opposition parties and the government's active efforts. Thank you.