Prime Minister Han Duck-soo presided over the 51st Cabinet meeting and emphasized the need to focus on boosting domestic demand and consumption and addressing polarization. During the meeting at the government complex in Sejong on the 3rd, he urged the National Assembly to process the budget for the next year, which has exceeded the constitutional deadline, with bipartisan cooperation. Criticizing the Democratic Party of Korea for attempting to reduce the budget, he called it an action that ignores the people and livelihood, as it would cut essential project funds needed to mitigate external uncertainties and enhance industrial competitiveness in semiconductors and AI.
Han warned that delays in budget approval would disrupt preparations for project execution by the central government, local governments, and public institutions, ultimately impacting citizens and the national economy. He stressed the importance of passing vital funds for initiatives like the Youth Leap Account and additional support for small businesses to revitalize the struggling local economy.
He also cautioned against cutting emergency funds needed for quick recovery in case of large-scale disasters and various social crime investigations, such as for deepfake crimes, drugs, and gambling. Moreover, Han urged for the budget to be finalized with bipartisan support as swiftly as possible.
In light of recent heavy snowfall, Han committed to focusing on rapid recovery efforts and highlighted the increasing frequency of unusual weather events like droughts, heatwaves, and heavy snowfalls, urging ongoing inspections and improvements in the government’s safety management system.
He stressed the importance of policies to stimulate consumption and reduce polarization, asking ministries to consider on-the-ground feedback and pursue extraordinary consumption promotion measures through tax benefits and regulatory reforms. He also requested that they identify tasks that can be implemented quickly, even before legal amendments through changes to enforcement ordinances or guidelines, and include polarization reduction strategies in their next year’s plans.
Lastly, Han emphasized the need to uphold public service discipline, warning that complacency and misconduct by some public officials could undermine trust and morale. He urged cabinet members to support their staff, ensuring that they work with confidence and dedication.