2020년 국방예산, 50조원 시대 개막,... 외교부는 한일, 미중 위기 관리 위한 증액<br /><br />The 2020 budget will see a big boost to spending on defense and diplomacy.<br />There's a lot to work on in particular in foreign affairs, so the budget reflects that.<br />Lee Ji-won explains.<br />South Korea's Defense Ministry is seeking a 41 billion U.S. dollar budget for 2020 a 7-point-4 percent increase on this year's budget.<br />It's the first time the budget would break the 50-trillion Korean won mark, which the ministry says is significant as it is getting slightly closer to the defense budgets of Seoul's neighbors.<br />There's a big focus on the improvement of defense capabilities, which takes up a third of the entire budget.<br />And in that spending, the ministry has allocated 12 billion dollars to advanced weapons systems and technology,... including plans to take a leading response against threats from nuclear weapons and weapons of mass destruction.<br />The ministry said it also plans to invest in the improvement of a large-scale transport ship.<br />And in an effort to develop the local defense industry, the ministry also plans to raise its research and development budget by 20-point-7 percent to 3-point-2-billion dollars.<br />More has also been allocated to improve soldiers' basic wages and conditions.<br />For example, a sergeant who now receives 335 dollars a month, will be getting 446 dollars next year, if all goes as planned.<br />The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is looking for an 11-point-five percent budget hike, bringing its budget for 2020 to 2-point-2-5 billion dollars.<br />The hike is more than double the increase the ministry has seen in recent years, as South Korea's diplomacy faces many challenges.<br />The ministry will allocate 1-point-four million dollars on boosting its government, public and private sector analysis network to prepare for the risks from political changes, especially the U.S.-China trade war.<br />It will also spend 4-point-2 million dollars, a 330 percent increase, on strengthening its diplomatic network with and within Japan, including hosting forums and inviting high-level figures.<br />The ministry also announced plans to raise its funding for internation<br />al organizations and for Official Development Assistance by 134-million dollars to 1-point-17 billion dollars.<br />The Unification Ministry aims to have its budget raised to 1-point-18 billion dollars.<br />While the budget for general accounting, which includes helping North Korean defectors and preparing for inter-Korean summits, saw a slight decrease,... the fund for inter-Korean joint projects went up over 10-percent, to 1 billion dollars.<br />This includes forestation projects, humanitarian aid and the efforts to link and modernize railways and roads between the two sides.<br />"Through these, the Unification ministry says it seeks to focus on realizing inter-Korean economic cooperation, and growing consensus on the peace process.<br />Lee Ji-won, Arirang News."<br />
