South Korea’s Lee urges prompt passage of $17 billion extra budget amid Middle East energy crisis

SEOUL, April 2 (Reuters) – 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.

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

($1 = 1,521.6000 won)

(Reporting by Joyce Lee and Jihoon LeeEditing by Ed ​Davies)