By Kang Hyun-kyung
Staff Reporter
The National Assembly passed the 292-trillion-won (approximately $251 billion) budget for this year, Thursday, amid protests from opposition lawmakers.
The governing Grand National Party (GNP) railroaded the bill in a plenary session. Lawmakers of the main opposition Democratic Party (DP) tried to block the passage of the budget proposal by barricading the speaker's podium.
The DP legislators entered the Assembly main chamber minutes before the session started and tried to prevent the governing party from going ahead with the vote.
The session was delayed several times due to the inter-party dispute over the four-river refurbishment project.
The GNP cut approximately 430 billion won from the project, but the framework of the refurbishment plan remained intact.
Compared with the original government proposal, more financial resources were set aside for social services, job creation for senior citizens, student loans, dentures for elderly citizens, and international events.
The fiscal year starts on Jan.1.
Earlier in the day, the GNP approved the spending plan at the Assembly Special Committee on Budget and Accounts.
The vote at the committee took place with the participation of only GNP lawmakers.
The legislators initially attempted to vote on the measure in the committee's conference room, which was occupied by DP lawmakers.
They moved to a nearby room and approved the modified proposal within five minutes. Opposition parties, including the DP, accused the GNP of the unilateral vote at the committee.
DP floor leader Lee Kang-rae DP contended that a procedural flaw occurred in the committee vote.