Democratic Party Analyzes 2027 Budget Bill and Criticizes Government

Supreme Council member Choi Min-hee emphasized the importance of Sejong, the administrative capital, which embodies the vision of former President Roh Moo-hyun in 2002 and the will of former party leader Lee Hae-chan. She stated that the party would pursue the completion of the special law, inheriting the political prowess demonstrated by former President Park Geun-hye and former floor leader Park Jie-won. Choi pledged active party-level support for the law's passage within the year, adding that it would realize Sejong City's future vision by inheriting the spirit of bipartisan agreement.

Supreme Council member Choi Min-hee countered some views that the Democratic Party is currently in crisis, asserting that the power to overcome it lies within the party. She emphasized that all members must exercise patience and self-control to ensure the party does not harm the Lee Jae-myung administration, earnestly appealing to party officials to join these efforts to overcome the crisis. She also positively evaluated party leader Kim Min-seok's swift response to the Telegram issue, calling for a unified party image.

Supreme Council member Park Seon-won announced that the government-approved 2027 budget bill totals 820 trillion won, an increase of 93 trillion won from this year, marking the largest increase ever. He evaluated that fiscal soundness has actually improved, citing that despite the larger budget, the national debt-to-GDP ratio is decreasing. While this could be interpreted as an increase in the total national wealth of South Korea, Park emphasized that despite expanded fiscal spending, real incomes continue to stagnate, making tangible changes for public livelihoods crucial. He urged the government to prioritize budget allocation for public welfare and economic revitalization.

Supreme Council member Seo Mi-hwa strongly criticized the National Human Rights Commission for failing to shed its stigma as a representative 'state institution condoning rebellion' left by the Yoon Suk-yeol administration. She specifically claimed that Chairperson Ahn Chang-ho, appointed by the Yoon Suk-yeol government, disregarded constitutional order and human rights during the rebellion-condoning period and actively championed the defense rights of former Prosecutor General Yoon Suk-yeol. Seo pointed out that the NHRC's functions have weakened, with a sharp decline in the rate of recommendations for correcting disability discrimination during Ahn Chang-ho's two-year term, and demanded his resignation. She also mentioned the controversy over the qualifications of member Han Seok-hoon after his term expired, urging prompt review and processing of the NHRC reform bill during this regular session of the National Assembly.

Supreme Council member Lee Seong-yoon strongly criticized the court's decision on August 31st to sentence Unification Church leader Han Hak-ja, who provided illegal political funds and luxury items to First Lady Kim Keon-hee, to two years in prison, stating it was far short of the special prosecutor's requested 13-year sentence. He pointed out that the court's reasoning makes it difficult to avoid criticism that it effectively exonerated suspicions of collusion between religion and politics. Lee urged that in the appellate trial, strict accountability commensurate with the special prosecutor's request must be demanded, emphasizing that the court must resolve public suspicions and uphold justice.

Spokesperson Han Min-soo strongly criticized the People Power Party's moves to visit former President Lee Myung-bak after inviting former President Park Geun-hye. He pointed out that the People Power Party is using meetings with the two former presidents as a strategy for party unity and reform, and he reiterated the question, 'Whose is DAS, anyway?' citing cases of guilty verdicts related to the real ownership controversy of DAS. Han criticized that the People Power Party's talk of unity and reform without proper reflection on past mistakes is deceptive.

Spokesperson Han Min-soo raised his voice in criticism of the ruling party for labeling the opposition's vetting of minister nominees as a political attack even before the confirmation hearing. He dismissed as absurd speculation the attempt to prematurely connect a minister nominee's job performance, not yet appointed, and the results of a presidential trial, based on the nominee's legislative activities and political views. Han emphasized that thoroughly vetting a nominee's expertise and morality is the opposition's constitutional duty, asserting that the ruling party must cease its attempts to block the vetting process itself.

Spokesperson Jeon Yong-gi strongly criticized the Supreme Court Administration's opaque budget execution, pointing to audit results that showed it violated guidelines by distributing cash monthly from 2022 to September 2025. He rebuked the judiciary for not applying laws and principles to its own budget, despite rigorously demanding them from the public. Jeon emphasized that judicial independence cannot justify opaque budget execution, and transparent and rational budget allocation must precede the restoration of public trust. He added that the judiciary must reflect on itself and reform.

Supreme Council member Kim Min-seok emphasized the importance of building infrastructure for the completion of Sejong City as an administrative capital and instructed to check the construction status of the Presidential Sejong Office and the Sejong National Assembly Building. He specifically stated that there have been several suggestions to process the Administrative Capital Special Law as much as possible within the year, requesting the National Assembly to review the current feasibility of this bill, including the possibility of a smooth bipartisan agreement. Kim added that the party would discuss forming a special committee for the completion of the administrative capital in the National Assembly to ensure Sejong City firmly establishes itself as the administrative capital.

Representative Kang Jun-hyeon announced that the Sejong District Court would begin basic and detailed design, targeting an opening in March 2031. He mentioned that at the opening ceremony of the National Assembly's regular session yesterday in September, Speaker Cho Jeong-sik also stated that the construction of the Sejong National Assembly building would proceed without a hitch, as promised to the public. Representative Kang explained that with the Presidential Sejong Office targeted for completion in 2029 and the Sejong National Assembly Building in 2033, Sejong City would take on the appearance of an administrative capital. This is expected to be an important step towards strengthening Sejong City's legal and administrative infrastructure.