Seoul: The Democratic Party (DP) is preparing to pass next year's budget in a plenary session on Monday after making significant unilateral cuts during the Special Committee on Budget and Accounts last week. This marks the first instance in modern Korean history where the budget has been passed in this manner. The government's refusal to accommodate the DP's demand for a budget allocation to issue local currencies prompted the party to reduce the original budget bill by 4.1 trillion won ($2.9 billion), which was then approved by the DP-dominated special committee. According to Yonhap News Agency, the DP's budget cuts appear to be politically driven. The party eliminated funding for special activities conducted by the presidential office, the National Security Office, and the prosecution, as well as the Board of Audit and Inspection and the police. Critics argue that the majority party's actions threaten to undermine the fundamental functions of these powerful agencies. The DP justified its actions by claimi ng that these offices failed to adequately explain their spending plans. However, the nature of their work often requires secrecy, especially for undercover operations targeting drug or sexual crimes and ensuring presidential security. The DP is well aware of this necessity, having allocated over 50 billion won annually for special activities by the Presidential Security Service during the previous Moon Jae-in administration. In 2022, a senior official from Moon's Blue House even highlighted the DP's reduction of the special budget for the presidential office to an average of 9.6 billion won per year, raising questions about their current decision to cut the budget completely. Additionally, the DP has drastically reduced funding for the exploration of the gas field under the East Sea from 50.5 billion won to a mere 800 million won, suggesting a potential attempt to obstruct government initiatives. The DP faces criticism for prioritizing the relief of their leader's judicial risks over national interests. Th e party has repeatedly sought to impeach leaders of key government organizations, including the chief of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office. Such actions could impair law enforcement's ability to function normally, with ordinary citizens bearing the consequences. DP leader Lee Jae-myung recently voiced a desire for "politics of coexistence." If sincere, he should engage in dialogue with the governing party. Rep. Woo Won-shik, the National Assembly speaker from the DP, must facilitate a compromise between the two parties before it is too late.