Kim Sang-hoon, the chairman of the policy committee of the People Power Party, urged the Democratic Party on the 27th to apologize for unilaterally cutting this year's budget and to actively cooperate in the additional allocation of disaster reserve funds.

Kwon Young-se, the chairman of the People Power Party Emergency Response Committee (front row center), holds a moment of silence for the victims of the Gyeongbuk forest fire alongside Kim Sang-hoon, the policy chairman, and Representative Bae Jun-young at the 'Gateway to the World, Incheon: Strategy Forum for Building an E-commerce Hub' held at the National Assembly Member's Hall in Yeouido, Seoul on Oct. 27. /Courtesy of News1
Kwon Young-se, the chairman of the People Power Party Emergency Response Committee (front row center), holds a moment of silence for the victims of the Gyeongbuk forest fire alongside Kim Sang-hoon, the policy chairman, and Representative Bae Jun-young at the 'Gateway to the World, Incheon: Strategy Forum for Building an E-commerce Hub' held at the National Assembly Member's Hall in Yeouido, Seoul on Oct. 27. /Courtesy of News1

On that day, Chairman Kim urged at an emergency response meeting held at the National Assembly, "The government should apologize to the public for unilaterally cutting the reserve fund in the 2025 budget and actively cooperate in the additional allocation of disaster reserve funds."

He claimed, "The Democratic Party, which insists on the supplementary budget for consumption coupons and local currency, regardless of high-income and low-income individuals, is actually opposing the additional allocation of disaster reserve funds for citizens and public officials who lost their lives and property due to unexpected disasters."

In this year's budget, the earmarked reserve fund was reduced by 1 trillion won from the government's proposal of 2.6 trillion won due to the opposition party's forced processing, resulting in an allocation of 1.6 trillion won. The Democratic Party believes that utilizing the earmarked reserve fund of 1.6 trillion won and the disaster response budget of the relevant ministries (3.6 billion won for the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, 1 billion won for the Korea Forest Service), and national treasury debt for disaster response is sufficient to respond to the wildfire situation.

Chairman Kim viewed the Democratic Party's passive stance toward the supplementary budget for "restoration of reserve funds" as an attempt to evade responsibility for the reserve fund cuts made unilaterally in this year's budget.

He emphasized that restoring the disaster reserve funds is urgent. Chairman Kim stated, "This wildfire has resulted in 26 deaths and over 27,000 evacuees, and damage has occurred in 209 locations including dwellings, factories, temples, and cultural properties," and added, "Even if there are no issues with support for recovery from the wildfire damage, considering the possibility of summer typhoons and flood damage, restoration of disaster reserve funds must be done."

He continued, "In such a situation, hindering the supplementary budget for government disaster response is an act of ignoring the safety of the people," and reiterated his request for cooperation from the Democratic Party.