The Democratic Party of Korea demanded the restoration of the special operation expenses of the presidential office, which were completely cut during the administration of Yoon Suk-yeol, during the review process of the second supplementary budget. Initially, the second supplementary budget submitted to the National Assembly by the government did not include related items, but during the review by the Subcommittee of the Special Committee on Budget & Accounts, it was proposed to add the budget for the presidential office's special operation expenses.
According to the coverage by ChosunBiz on the 2nd, the budget for the presidential office's special operation expenses, amounting to 9.177 billion won, was included in the review materials of the Special Committee on Budget & Accounts '2025 2nd supplementary budget proposal adjustment subcommittee review material.' The Subcommittee of the Special Committee on Budget & Accounts began reviewing the supplementary budget proposal from that day.
The review materials reveal that Choe Sung-rae, a Democratic Party lawmaker, presented an opinion for an increase in the presidential office's special operation expenses. The special operation expenses for the presidential office, reduced by the Democratic Party during the budget review last year, amounted to 8.251 billion won. With less than six months remaining in the year, more funding has been allocated than the previous government's one-year special operation expenses.
The reason for the increase cited that "the special operation expenses are directly incurred for activities that require high security, connected with national interests and security, among the activities of the presidential secretariat and the National Security Office, thus an increase is necessary for smooth national administration."
Lawmaker Choe noted during a comprehensive policy inquiry in the Special Committee on Budget & Accounts the day before that, "Since a new government has also been launched, the prosecution, police, Board of Audit and Inspection, and the presidential office should actively clarify and create transparent procedures, and the issues of special operation and special expenses need to be reviewed proactively, stating that "the new government should reflect on the budget to ensure that the issue of insufficient special operation expenses does not disrupt its operations."
Special operation expenses refer to costs incurred for confidential special activities or national affairs. They are primarily categorized under operational support expenses but can also be used for bonuses. Unlike other budgets, they do not require receipts, hence they are colloquially referred to as "slush funds."
The Democratic Party cut all special operation expenses for power institutions such as the presidential office, prosecution, and Board of Audit and Inspection during the budget review last year. They demanded that the presidential office and the National Security Office clarify the usage details of the special operation expenses, but their request was not accepted, which is why they could not transparently reveal the execution details.
The special operation expenses for the prosecution and Board of Audit and Inspection were also included in the review material. The prosecution's special operation expenses are 4.004 billion won, reflecting 50% of the government budget proposal for 2025 amounting to 8.09 billion won. This consideration seems to reflect the fact that about six months of this year have already passed. The Board of Audit and Inspection's special operation expenses listed in the review materials are 759 million won. Both the prosecution and the Board of Audit and Inspection submitted opinions for an increase, presented by the People Power Party committee members and Democratic Party lawmaker Choe Sung-rae.