SEOUL, April 7 (AJP) - President Lee Jae Myung met with leaders of both the ruling and opposition parties on Tuesday, urging bipartisan cooperation and national unity as South Korea faces a major crisis amid the prolonged conflit in the Middle East.
At a luncheon meeting at Cheong Wa Dae in central Seoul, Lee said, "Internal unity is especially important when a country faces a crisis." He added that South Korea is in a "major crisis" caused by external factors beyond its control, making it difficult to respond effectively.
It was the first time Lee sat down with Jung Chung-rae of the ruling Democratic Party (DP)and PPP leader Jang Dong-hyeok of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) since their last meeting in September last year.
"When we have different views, it's better to meet and talk often," Lee said, adding, "We're not doing this just for a photo-op."
Lee then emphasized the need for a supplementary budget, saying it would help ease the burden on those hit hardest by soaring fuel prices. Under the government's 26 trillion won (about US$17 billion) proposal, cash handouts would be provided to those in the bottom 70 percent of the income bracket.
He said the funding would come not from new debt or tax hikes, but from higher-than-expected tax revenue.
Mindful of criticism that the cash handouts are a populist move to woo voters ahead of local elections scheduled for early June, he said taxpayers' money should be used "fairly and reasonably," adding that the government considers them the most effective form of support.
Ahead of the meeting, presidential policy chief Kim Yong‑beom said the proposal was prepared urgently to cope with the Middle East crisis that began with U.S.‑led airstrikes against Iran in late February, but dismissed the possibility of another extra budget.
At a luncheon meeting at Cheong Wa Dae in central Seoul, Lee said, "Internal unity is especially important when a country faces a crisis." He added that South Korea is in a "major crisis" caused by external factors beyond its control, making it difficult to respond effectively.
It was the first time Lee sat down with Jung Chung-rae of the ruling Democratic Party (DP)and PPP leader Jang Dong-hyeok of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) since their last meeting in September last year.
"When we have different views, it's better to meet and talk often," Lee said, adding, "We're not doing this just for a photo-op."
Lee then emphasized the need for a supplementary budget, saying it would help ease the burden on those hit hardest by soaring fuel prices. Under the government's 26 trillion won (about US$17 billion) proposal, cash handouts would be provided to those in the bottom 70 percent of the income bracket.
He said the funding would come not from new debt or tax hikes, but from higher-than-expected tax revenue.
Mindful of criticism that the cash handouts are a populist move to woo voters ahead of local elections scheduled for early June, he said taxpayers' money should be used "fairly and reasonably," adding that the government considers them the most effective form of support.
Ahead of the meeting, presidential policy chief Kim Yong‑beom said the proposal was prepared urgently to cope with the Middle East crisis that began with U.S.‑led airstrikes against Iran in late February, but dismissed the possibility of another extra budget.
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