Parties Fail To Concur On Budget

The budget for fiscal year 2002 will not meet its Sunday deadline for submission to the National Assembly's plenary session due to partisan squabbling over the budget's size and the formation of a subcommittee on Friday.

"To stimulate the economy, the budget should be increased by 5 trillion won ($4 billion)," said Representative Kang Un-tae of the ruling Millennium Democratic Party. Mr. Kang is the party's ranking member on the budget and accounts committee.

Representative Lee Hahn-koo, the ranking member of the Grand National Party on the committee, charged that the 112.5 trillion won proposed by the government is already "inflated" by 10 trillion won. "Even if we are to set aside money for a stimulus package, the government's proposal could be cut by at least 5.8 trillion won," he said.

The two parties also wrangled over the make up of the subcommittee that would vote on the budget. Mr. Lee argued that the subcommittee should consist of four Grand Nationals, three Millennium Democrats and one member of the United Liberal Democrats, the minor opposition party. Mr. Kang argued for four seats going to both the Grand National Party and the ruling party.

by Lee Soo-ho