National Assembly passes 26.2 trillion won extra budget bill to deal with Middle East war
Published: 10 Apr. 2026, 23:38
Updated: 10 Apr. 2026, 23:42
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- SARAH KIM
- [email protected]
![The National Assembly passes a 26.2 trillion won supplementary budget bill to response to the Middle East crisis during a plenary session at the parliament in Yeouido, western Seoul, on April 10, 2026. [NEWS1]](https://koreaseafood.online/data/photo/2026/04/10/0fd033bf-a983-46a0-93ad-d2ae39bfdd30.jpg)
The National Assembly passes a 26.2 trillion won supplementary budget bill to response to the Middle East crisis during a plenary session at the parliament in Yeouido, western Seoul, on April 10, 2026. [NEWS1]
The extra budget was passed at a parliamentary plenary session through a bipartisan agreement with 214 votes for, 11 against and 19 abstentions out of 244 members present, 10 days after the government submitted the proposal.
Earlier Friday, the floor leaders of the rival ruling Democratic Party (DP) and the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) reached an agreement to pass the supplementary budget later that day, keeping its size at 26.2 trillion won in accordance with the original government proposal.
The so-called supplementary war budget is structured around three factors: easing the burden of high oil prices, stabilizing people's livelihoods and minimizing industrial damage while stabilizing the supply chain.
The government's proposal for a 4.8 trillion won relief fund to mitigate damages caused by high oil prices due to the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran, which had been the biggest point of contention, was maintained.
Accordingly, some 32.56 million people representing the bottom 70 percent of the income bracket will receive between 100,000 won to 600,000 won per person. The government plans to begin priority payments this month to vulnerable groups after reviewing administrative data and complete payments for the remaining eligible recipients next month.
![Han Byung-do, center right, floor leader of the ruling Democratic Party, poses for a commemorative photo with main opposition People Power Party floor leader Song Eon-seog, center left, after agreeing to pass a supplementary budget bill to responds to the economic fallout from the Middle East war at the National Assembly in western Seoul on April 10. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]](https://koreaseafood.online/data/photo/2026/04/10/1331d99f-3e70-4711-b47b-4819645c04e4.jpg)
Han Byung-do, center right, floor leader of the ruling Democratic Party, poses for a commemorative photo with main opposition People Power Party floor leader Song Eon-seog, center left, after agreeing to pass a supplementary budget bill to responds to the economic fallout from the Middle East war at the National Assembly in western Seoul on April 10. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]
In addition, the budget for public transportation support was increased by 100 billion won to provide a temporary 50 percent discount on K-Pass, a monthly public transit card that offers refunds. Another 200 billion won has been allocated for measures to alleviate the burden on farmers and fishermen.
The government submitted the supplementary budget bill to the National Assembly on March 31, and President Lee Jae Myung visited the National Assembly on April 2 to deliver a policy speech asking for bipartisan cooperation to pass the extra budget bill.
The Blue House immediately expresses its gratitude for the passage of the extra budget through bipartisan consensus.
"We are grateful that the ruling and opposition parties processed it swiftly through bipartisan cooperation that prioritized national interests in the face of the crisis caused by the Middle East war," presidential chief spokesperson Kang Yu-jung said in a written statement regarding the parliamentary approval of the government's extra budget bill.
"With the passage of the supplementary budget bill today, we are now able to proceed with livelihood projects, including relief funds for high oil prices, as well as support naphtha purchases, a 50 percent discount on K-Pass to reduce the burden of public transportation costs for citizens and fuel subsidies for farmers and fishermen."
She added that the "Lee Jae Myung administration will do its utmost to swiftly execute follow-up procedures so that the effects of the supplementary budget can be tangible."
BY SARAH KIM [[email protected]]
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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