Choi Sang-mok, the Acting President, Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of Economy and Finance, exercised the right to request re-consideration (veto) on the amendment to the Local Education Finance Grant Act, which involves funding free high school education through national finances.
Choi presided over a Cabinet meeting today (14th) and stated, “The government is not rejecting support for free education but is requesting re-consideration to encourage further discussion in the National Assembly for a better policy alternative.”
The amendment passed the National Assembly’s plenary session on December 31 last year, led by the opposition party. It includes a special provision to extend the temporary state support covering 47.5% of the necessary funds for free high school education, initiated in 2019, for an additional three years.
Choi remarked, “It is desirable to have more adequate consultation and the formation of social consensus during the legislative process. Despite the proposed alternatives to gradually reduce the cost-sharing ratio, the amendment was passed without sufficient discussion.”
He added, “We cannot ignore the differing opinions emerging in some areas of society regarding additional national funding for free education.” He emphasized the importance of deriving a socially acceptable alternative through sufficient political and policy consultations in the National Assembly, rather than unilaterally enforcing national support for costly policies.
Choi further mentioned, “In light of limited fiscal resources, it is preferable to maximize the use of local education finances for the efficient management of national finances. Excessive national funding would disrupt efficient national financial operations and ultimately increase the public burden.”
Lastly, he expressed regret over exercising the re-consideration right prior to the launch of the National Assembly-Government Policy Council and hoped for renewed discussions between ruling and opposition parties alongside the government to find a desirable solution for additional national financial input.