Published: 14:29, April 2, 2026
S. Korea's Lee urges quick passage of $17b extra budget amid ME energy crisis
By Reuters
South Korean President Lee Jae-myung gives a speech on the Government's first supplemetary budget bill of 2026 at the National Assembly in Seoul, South Korea, April 2, 2026. (PHOTO / REUTERS)

SEOUL - South Korean ​President Lee Jae-myung on ‌Thursday urged parliament to promptly pass a 26.2 trillion won ($17.3 ​billion) supplementary budget to ​shore up the economy amid "the ⁠worst energy security threat" ​posed by the Middle East ​crisis.

"Even if the war ends tomorrow, it will take a considerable period ​of time for the ​destroyed energy infrastructure facilities in the ‌Middle ⁠East to be restored and supplies to run as smoothly as before," Lee told ​parliament in ​a ⁠televised speech.

Parliament is expected to pass the ​extra budget by April ​10.

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The ⁠government plans to implement the budget as soon as ⁠it ​is approved by ​parliament.