By Choi Ha-young
The National Assembly began reviewing the government's budget bill for 2018, Monday, amid heated debate over the government's expansion of welfare programs.
The Moon Jae-in administration submitted a budget bill of 429 trillion won ($383.9 billion) for September next year. This is a 7.1 percent increase from the 2017 budget at 400.5 trillion won.
The Assembly is supposed to complete the review by the end of November and put the final bill to vote at the plenary session on Dec. 2.
Next year's budget bill is dedicated to ensure better welfare and job security, the ruling Democratic Party of Korea said Monday.
The President has vowed to hire 174,000 government officials in charge of welfare services as well as police officers, mail carriers and firefighters who are suffering from being overworked. In a budget speech on Nov. 1, Moon reiterated a "human-oriented economy" to boost domestic demand through fair distribution. He also introduced higher health insurance coverage and allowances for parents who are raising children under five.
The government is also mulling over 3 trillion won of job security funds for small businesses that are likely to groan under the burden of the envisioned minimum wage increase to 7,530 won next year from 6,470 won this year.
In the first session of the Special Committee on Budget and Accounts to review the bill, Monday, conservative opposition Liberty Korea Party lawmakers grilled Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon and Finance Minister Kim Dong-yeon to submit a detailed budget of the government's plans.
In response to the criticisms of the government's "populism," the minister said the whole personnel expenses are "manageable" during Moon's five-year presidential term.
"We are looking forward to a virtuous cycle of job creation, more spending, increased investment of corporations and national growth," Prime Minister Lee said in the committee. "The government is seeking better administrative service by hiring more public servants who deal directly with citizens' inconveniences."
The National Assembly began reviewing the government's budget bill for 2018, Monday, amid heated debate over the government's expansion of welfare programs.
The Moon Jae-in administration submitted a budget bill of 429 trillion won ($383.9 billion) for September next year. This is a 7.1 percent increase from the 2017 budget at 400.5 trillion won.
The Assembly is supposed to complete the review by the end of November and put the final bill to vote at the plenary session on Dec. 2.
Next year's budget bill is dedicated to ensure better welfare and job security, the ruling Democratic Party of Korea said Monday.
The President has vowed to hire 174,000 government officials in charge of welfare services as well as police officers, mail carriers and firefighters who are suffering from being overworked. In a budget speech on Nov. 1, Moon reiterated a "human-oriented economy" to boost domestic demand through fair distribution. He also introduced higher health insurance coverage and allowances for parents who are raising children under five.
The government is also mulling over 3 trillion won of job security funds for small businesses that are likely to groan under the burden of the envisioned minimum wage increase to 7,530 won next year from 6,470 won this year.
In the first session of the Special Committee on Budget and Accounts to review the bill, Monday, conservative opposition Liberty Korea Party lawmakers grilled Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon and Finance Minister Kim Dong-yeon to submit a detailed budget of the government's plans.
In response to the criticisms of the government's "populism," the minister said the whole personnel expenses are "manageable" during Moon's five-year presidential term.
"We are looking forward to a virtuous cycle of job creation, more spending, increased investment of corporations and national growth," Prime Minister Lee said in the committee. "The government is seeking better administrative service by hiring more public servants who deal directly with citizens' inconveniences."
![[PHOTOS] Decisive moments of Team Korea at Asian Games](https://img.koreatimes.co.kr/upload/newsV2/images/asian_game_0005_2eafd6b0a3e01.JPG/dims/resize/178/optimize)
![[INTERVIEW] ROK-US alliance is win-win partnership: KUSAF chief](https://img.koreatimes.co.kr/upload/thumbnailV2/278f7bca54f944b9a569bd074327669b.jpg/dims/resize/178/optimize)
![[INTERVIEW] It is premature to revise ROK-US mutual defense treaty: veterans' group head](https://img.koreatimes.co.kr/upload/thumbnailV2/8c502577285b479ea715ceccadaf8935.jpg/dims/resize/178/optimize)
![[INTERVIEW] Ahn Hyo-seop wanted to share dedicated love with 'A Time Called You'](https://img.koreatimes.co.kr/upload/thumbnailV2/cb0026a0ef9e445fb850c720b307e5cd.jpg/dims/resize/178/optimize)
![[INTERVIEW] 'Coexistence of different art hubs across Asia is necessary': Art Week Tokyo Director](https://img.koreatimes.co.kr/upload/thumbnailV2/5e1f02ba859b44428a31a10c6ec2a2ea.jpg/dims/resize/178/optimize)
