President Lee Jae-myung has repeatedly raised the possibility of drafting a supplementary budget to expand culture and arts funding. It is unusual for a supplementary budget to be discussed early in the year due to a budget shortfall. In particular, there is no precedent for a culture and arts supplementary budget.
Experts are split. Some said, "Under the National Finance Act, if a new government expenditure arises in accordance with law, a supplementary budget can be drafted," raising the possibility under the law. Others noted, "Expanding support for culture and the arts does not meet the conditions for a supplementary budget."
◇ "Legally possible"
Article 89 of the National Finance Act specifies only the following as conditions for a supplementary budget: ① war or disaster ② major changes in conditions such as an economic downturn or mass unemployment ③ the occurrence or increase of government expenditure pursuant to law.
If the government enacts a special law to support the culture and arts sector, some say it would be legally possible to pursue a supplementary budget to secure additional funding related to that law. Woo Suk-jin, a professor at Myongji University, said, "If a special law creates government expenditure, it can meet the requirements," adding, "With a dominant ruling party, both the legislation and the supplementary budget could move quickly and be pursued before the local elections."
◇ "No precedent"
Others noted that a culture and arts supplementary budget is unprecedented and should be approached cautiously. Since 2006, the government has drafted 18 supplementary budgets. None were aimed at allocating funds to a specific sector. Past supplementary budgets were broadly directed at areas where the public at large could benefit, such as livelihoods and price stability, support for small business owners, and job creation.
Enacting a special law for a supplementary budget is also without precedent. Jung Kyu-chul, a KDI Deputy Minister, pointed out, "In principle, a supplementary budget is drafted when a shock occurs across the macroeconomy." Shin Se-don, a professor at Sookmyung Women's University, also said, "If a supplementary budget is to be pursued for an individual project, discussion on amending the National Finance Act is necessary."