President Moon Jae-in will address the National Assembly on Nov. 1, highlighting his policy goals in an attempt to facilitate the smooth processing of next year’s budget plans. 

This will be the second time for Moon to address the National Assembly since he took office on May 10. His first parliamentary address was on June 12, in which he highlighted the need for the supplementary budget. 

As he did in his first address, Moon is expected to explain his administration’s objectives and to urge the parliament to swiftly pass the budget for next year. The ruling party is outnumbered by opposition parties. 

Despite the Constitution stating that the budget needs to be confirmed at least 30 days before the beginning of the government’s fiscal year on Jan. 1, the country’s political parties have been known to hold back the budget beyond the deadline. 

This year, the parties are set to begin reviewing the budget plans on Nov. 2. If the parties are to abide by the deadline, the budget must be approved by Dec. 2. 

In an unrelated development, the presidential office began posting the detailed schedule history of the president on its website Monday. The president’s schedule will be disclosed with a week delay for security reasons, Cheong Wa Dae said. 

The move comes as part of Moon’s plans to make the presidential office more transparent. 

The released schedule includes the president’s official and unofficial meetings with the government and presidential office.

By Choi Hee-suk (cheesuk@heraldcorp.com)