Concerns were raised during the National Assembly audit regarding the Future Response Fund, suggesting it could weaken legislative budget control and undermine fiscal soundness. Representative Lim I-ja of the People Power Party criticized the fund's management and scale, calling for its withdrawal, while Park Hong-geun, Minister of the Office for Government Policy Coordination, defended it as being designed in accordance with the National Finance Act.
The National Assembly's Finance and Economy Planning Committee conducted the 2026 National Assembly audit of the Office for Government Policy Coordination on October 8.
Representative Lim presented a review from the National Assembly Budget Office, highlighting limitations in the government's ability to respond to revenue shortfalls or modify budgets without supplementary budgets, which could infringe on the National Assembly's budget review and approval rights.
She expressed concerns that the fund should be designed to avoid becoming a permanent supplementary budget, stating, "General budgets must undergo strict review and approval by the National Assembly, and if budget changes are necessary throughout the year, the government should submit a supplementary budget for legislative scrutiny, as mandated by constitutional principles."
Lim also raised issues regarding fiscal soundness, arguing, "According to the National Finance Act, debt repayment should take precedence, but the Future Response Fund could violate principles of fiscal soundness."
She criticized the Future Response Fund as a "backdoor transfer account that bypasses National Assembly oversight," questioning, "Isn't this just President Lee Jae-myung's slush fund?"
In response, Minister Park stated, "There seems to be a misunderstanding or general concerns in your remarks," and emphasized, "We will operate within the legal framework." He added, "The business account will utilize approximately 45 trillion won next year, and the financial account will be managed according to the National Finance Act, which I cannot arbitrarily change."
Conversely, some lawmakers supported the Future Response Fund. Representative Moon Jin-seok of the Democratic Party argued, "Attacking the Future Response Fund as President Lee Jae-myung's slush fund is merely political rhetoric," asserting that the fund is intended to secure future growth drivers.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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