[Anchor]

President Lee Jae-myung addressed criticisms regarding the government's welfare budget, asking the public for time as the current focus must be on growth. Meanwhile, former Policy Chief Kim Yong-beom, who abruptly stepped down, shared that the emergence of a young economic deputy prime minister also served as a rationale for his resignation.

Reporter Kang Cheongwan has the details.

[Reporter]

President Lee Jae-myung shared a media editorial on social media today (September 2) suggesting that the government's welfare budget should be increased further. He wrote, "We are currently facing the 'growth lean year' created by the previous administration, so we must first focus more on economic recovery." He added, "This does not mean we are rolling back welfare."

He went on to ask, "It has only been a year, so please give us a little more time."

A Cheong Wa Dae official explained that while the proportion of the welfare budget appears to have decreased due to an overall expansion in the budget scale driven by additional tax revenue, the actual amount has indeed increased.

Former Cheong Wa Dae Policy Chief Kim Yong-beom, who stepped down yesterday (September 1), told SBS today, "Over the past year, we have laid the foundation for growth through the 'three mega-projects.' Now, someone with new perspectives and energy must take charge of livelihood policies to ensure those fruits reach vulnerable groups."

Regarding Economic Deputy Prime Minister nominee Lee Hyung-il, who was born in the 1970s, Kim mentioned, "Although I did not know the specifics of his nomination beforehand, the emergence of a young deputy prime minister gave me even more grounds to step down."

He strongly dismissed rumors of a conflict surrounding the tax reform plan raised by some in political circles, calling them "completely untrue."

Meanwhile, People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyuk claimed today regarding "single-stock leverage ETFs" that "securities firms pocketed rapidly increased commissions," suggesting ties between former Chief Kim and the securities industry. Kim dismissed the claim as unworthy of consideration.

(Camera reporting: Jung Sang-bo, Ha Ryung | Video editing: Lee Seung-hee | Design: Han Heung-soo)