Ruling party applauds 30 times at policy speech, while opposition answers with protest signs
President Lee Jae Myung delivered a policy speech on the 821 trillion won budget bill — the government's spending plan for next year (2027) — at a National Assembly plenary session on the 2nd. While Democratic Party lawmakers responded with 30 rounds of applause, People Power Party lawmakers staged a silent protest by attaching signs to their laptops reading "Stop intimidating the judiciary! Protect judicial independence!" and "1,400 trillion won national debt + 162 trillion won future debt fund," with some heckling or walking out mid-speech. The ruling party offered support and the opposition condemnation for the very same speech — a scene laying bare how sharply divided the two parties are over the budget bill.
The People Power Party held a picket protest in the National Assembly's Rotenda Hall timed to the president's arrival. Lawmakers chanted slogans including "Stop intimidating the judiciary," denouncing the conflict between the government and ruling party on one side and the judiciary on the other. The president passed by the protesting lawmakers and entered the plenary chamber at around 10:02 a.m., where Democratic Party lawmakers lined the path from the entrance to the podium, welcoming him with applause. Before entering, Lee shook hands and exchanged greetings with the heads of five institutions and party leaders, including People Power Party chief Jang Dong-hyuk, Democratic Party leader Kim Min-seok, Chief Justice Cho Hee-de, Constitutional Court President Kim Sang-hwan, and Rebuilding Korea Party leader Cho Kuk. The People Power Party lawmakers, still holding their signs, merely watched him enter.
The friction continued during the speech itself. When the president went off-script to say, "We do issue government bonds, but most of the proceeds go toward repaying existing bonds, so there is little net increase," protests erupted from the People Power Party seats, briefly halting the speech. Rep. Kim Mi-ae raised her voice, shouting, "Resume the trial!"
The divide between the ruling and opposition parties remained after the speech ended. All People Power Party lawmakers left the chamber except Rep. Cho Kyung-tae. When the president approached the party's seats, Cho was the only one to stand and shake his hand, saying, "Regardless of party, the head of state deserves proper courtesy." By contrast, Democratic Party lawmakers lined up again for handshakes, with some requesting selfies, and the president obliged. Lee left the chamber at 10:42 a.m., and Speaker Cho declared the session adjourned.
