Lee delivers budget address to Assembly
Ruling party greets economic remarks with applause
Opposition stages picket protest, sparks floor confrontation
President Lee Jae Myung visited the National Assembly on Monday to deliver his fourth policy address since taking office, but the political reception was starkly divided — a sharp contrast to the atmosphere at the April address.
Tension between the ruling and opposition parties began before the plenary session opened at 10 a.m. People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyeok took direct aim at Lee at a supreme council meeting, saying the president "should say what the people want to hear, not what he wants to say."
Within the PPP, some members had floated the idea of boycotting the address altogether, amid a political chill stemming from the ruling Democratic Party's push for a parliamentary investigation into Chief Justice Jo Hee-dae. The party ultimately settled on a picket protest at the venue.
The Democratic Party, meanwhile, sharpened its criticism of the PPP's calls to slash next year's budget. Senior Democratic Party spokesperson Park Seong-jun told reporters after a closed-door supreme council meeting that the party was "thoroughly prepared" to defend the future investment fund, rebuffing the PPP's demand to cut 134 trillion won ($97 billion) from the budget. "It is a fund for future investment and preparation," Park said.
The divisions grew sharper once Lee arrived at the Assembly. About 60 PPP lawmakers gathered in Rotunda Hall holding pickets that read "Stop the debt-piling fund being passed on to future generations." Lee bowed toward the opposition lawmakers holding the signs.
The temperature gap inside the plenary chamber was equally clear. As Lee entered, Democratic Party lawmakers greeted him with warm applause, while PPP lawmakers remained seated and affixed their prepared pickets to their desks in a show of protest.
The atmosphere did not change once the address began. Each time Lee outlined economic achievements or explained the direction of next year's budget, Democratic Party lawmakers responded with applause. PPP lawmakers called out remarks such as "Why are you issuing new government bonds?" and "Resume the trial."
At one point, Lee paused his address to respond directly to the heckling. "If you have something to say, please go ahead, and I will continue," Lee said. "I am speaking right now and you keep interrupting. I would appreciate it if you shared your views separately."
When Lee finished, PPP lawmakers immediately walked out of the chamber — a stark contrast to the April address, when Lee had shaken hands with PPP members one by one before leaving. Democratic Party lawmakers stayed to shake hands and take selfies with Lee, keeping the warm mood going. Some called out "Lee Jae Myung, fighting!"
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