Nat'l Assembly passes 2024 budget of $503.5 bil.

The National Assembly passes the next year's national budget in Seoul. Dec. 21. Yonhap

The National Assembly on Thursday passed next year's national budget of 656.6 trillion won ($503.5 billion).

The bill passed 237-9 with 13 abstentions, more than two weeks past its scheduled deadline of Dec. 2.

The final package was down 300 billion won from the government's initial proposal of 656.9 trillion won submitted in September, marking the second year the budget was decreased by the parliament. (Yonhap)