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Initial Hurdle for Han Duck-soo: Justifying his Political Ambition

Han needs to clarify the methods used to justify the administration's heavily criticized blunders – the controversial expansion of medical school enrollment, significant reductions in research and development funding, and the unsuccessful attempt to secure the 2030 World Expo.

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Initial Hurdle for Han Duck-soo: Justifying his Political Ambition

Acting President and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo delivered a rousing speech on the first supplementary budget for 2025, highlighting three critical areas of investment. The budget proposal, worth a total of 12.2 trillion won ($8.51 billion), is eagerly awaiting parliamentary approval.

In the wake of Korea's worst wildfires on record, a staggering 3.2 trillion won has been earmarked for disaster response and recovery. Measures include constructing 1,000 rental houses for displaced individuals and allocating increased disaster recovery funding, boosted from 500 billion won to a hefty 1.5 trillion won. Moreover, innovative tools like AI-powered cameras and high-performance drones will be deployed to improve disaster response and surveillance.

Strategic industry development is another key focus, with 4.4 trillion won targeted at AI, semiconductors, and addressing global trade risks. This investment aims to enhance the AI industry's competitiveness, offer aid to businesses facing liquidity crises due to US tariffs, and bolster the nation's global trade efforts.

Finally, Han's speech emphasized livelihood stabilization, allocating 4.3 trillion won for economic relief. This includes offering financial credits to ease the burden on small businesses and self-employed individuals, as well as providing targeted support for low-income youths and socially vulnerable groups.

With a pressing need for swift action in disaster recovery and global competition, Han underscored the urgency of rapid approval for this significant budget proposal. This marks the first acting presidential budget speech since 1979, underscoring the importance of this legislation in navigating current challenges.

  1. The acting President and Prime Minister, Han Duck-soo, has emphasized the need for swift parliamentary approval of the first acting presidential budget speech since 1979, which is worth a total of 12.2 trillion won ($8.51 billion).
  2. In his rousing speech, Han highlighted three critical areas of investment, including disaster response and recovery, which received a staggering 3.2 trillion won.
  3. For disaster response, innovative tools like AI-powered cameras and high-performance drones will be deployed, while 1,000 rental houses will be constructed for displaced individuals.
  4. The budget proposal also focuses on strategic industry development, with 4.4 trillion won targeted at AI, semiconductors, and addressing global trade risks.
  5. In terms of livelihood stabilization, Han allocated 4.3 trillion won for economic relief, offering financial credits to small businesses and self-employed individuals, and providing targeted support for low-income youths and socially vulnerable groups.
  6. Opinions on Han's candidacy in the upcoming elections have been divided, with some praising his focus on policy-and-legislation, politics, and general news, particularly the supplementary budget for 2025.
Han will need to clarify the rationales behind the controversial decisions, including the contentious enrollment expansion at the medical school, significant reductions in research and development funding, and the unsuccessful attempt to host the 2030 World Expo.

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