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South Korea Parliament Passes Extra Budget Bill After Weeks of Impasse – Reports

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South Korea’s parliament passed a budget bill on Saturday that will add $9.8 billion to create extra public sector jobs and welfare benefits, local media reported.

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MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The bill was approved by 140-31 after the main opposition LKP party walked out in protest over the government’s use of taxpayers’ money to create public service jobs, the Yonhap news agency said.

The initial proposal of 12,000 jobs – to make good on the president’s plan to create 810,000 surplus quality jobs over the next five years – led to a six-week deadlock in the legislature.

That number was eventually cut to 2,575 and approved by a parliamentary budget committee. The LKP wanted it to be lowered to just 1,000, according to the agency.

Additional funds will also be used for disability benefits, assistance to drought-hit regions and the shipbuilding industry, as well as preparations for the next year’s Winter Olympic Games.

The outlet said fears were that extra spending could stretch the state budget. The main argument was that under the country's finance laws a reserve budget can only be used for disaster relief and during economic recession.

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