These days inside and outside the National Assembly, people say the Special Committee on Budget & Accounts' Subcommittee on Budget Adjustment is becoming a "budget deferral subcommittee." They say even budget bills that passed their competent standing committees with bipartisan consent are being deferred in the budget subcommittee on the grounds that there are differences among the Commissioners. If a bill is blocked in the budget subcommittee, it cannot move to the full meeting of the budget committee and the National Assembly plenary session. There are concerns that the legal deadline for handling the budget bill (Dec. 2) may not be met again this year.
On the 20th, the budget subcommittee entered the fourth day of review of increases and cuts for the "2026 budget bill." So far, budgets for more than 60 projects have been deferred.
Complaints about the "bulk deferrals" first erupted on the 18th during the review of the "New Space Fund," which supports aerospace-sector corporations of the Korea AeroSpace Administration. Taking into account the point that it overlaps with the 150 trillion won Public Growth Fund being pushed by the Lee Jae-myung administration, the budget subcommittee deferred the New Space Fund budget.
On this, Noh Jong-myeon, a member of the Science, ICT, Broadcasting and Communications Committee and a budget subcommittee member from the Democratic Party of Korea, said it was an "item discussed in depth at the standing committee and handled by agreement," but it was ultimately deferred. Noh then said, "I really don't see the need for the subcommittee," adding, "If it is handled by agreement in the standing committee and is reasonably persuasive, shouldn't it be handled?"
On the 19th, the Ministry of Economy and Finance's budget bill for revitalizing cooperatives was also deferred. The Ministry of Economy and Finance (MOEF) proposed a 100 million won cut to secure passage, but it was not accepted. Cho Kye-won, a Democratic Party budget subcommittee member, said, "Why defer unconditionally? Do we hold standing committees just to defer?"
With mass deferrals in the budget subcommittee slowing the review, the likelihood grew that this year's handling of the budget bill will also miss the legal deadline (Dec. 2). The National Assembly approved the budget bill on Dec. 21 last year and on Dec. 24 in 2023, well past the legal deadline.
On the 20th, during the review of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism budget, budget subcommittee Chairperson Han Byung-do of the Democratic Party said, "As chair, I ask this. While discussing government programs, we should refrain from raising issues by linking them to party matters," adding, "Otherwise there is no end. Please focus on the government programs."
In political circles, people say, "Lawmakers are trying to reflect a multitude of interests around the budget bill, and complex calculations are likely at work behind the deferrals."