Opposition legislators on Tuesday threatened to veto the government’s proposed tax hikes, suggesting President Park Geun-hye’s efforts to push through an expansionary budget in 2015 could be delayed.

The government announced an increased spending plan for 2015 last Thursday. The proposed 376 trillion won ($361.6 billion) budget was a 5.7 percent increase from this year’s as it entailed plans to enlarge fiscal spending amid fears that the South Korean economy could fall into a deteriorating cycle resembling Japan’s so-called lost decades.

But the plan included raises in levies on cigarettes, automobile taxes and a poll tax, and only a relatively moderate increase in corporate rates. This sparked criticism from the public and the opposition, who charged that the budget was unfair to those surviving on a modest income.

The opposition says the majority of consumers of cigarettes and automobiles are low income earners.

The opposition similarly opposed raises in residential taxes, which are poll taxes levied by local governments. Increases in poll taxes are considered disadvantageous to lower earners because each person is taxed an equal amount.

“The added tax burden on cigarettes, motor vehicles and the residential poll tax will anger our citizens,” main opposition party New Politics Alliance for Democracy floor leader Rep. Park Young-sun said. “Tax raises on the weakest members of our society in the face of an expansionary budget must stop.”

Park and other opposition lawmakers suspect the government of increasing taxes to contain the rising levels of the national debt which hit close to 490 trillion won according to a Finance Ministry report on Tuesday.

The ruling Saenuri Party has defended the budget plan, which was masterminded by Saenuri Rep. Choi Kyung-hwan, who is serving as the finance minister.

Saenuri officials say the increased taxes in cigarettes are part of efforts to improve public health. Raises in motor vehicle-related taxes and the residential poll tax were demanded by local governments, governing party lawmakers said. Some of those local governments are headed by opposition officials, they added.

The National Assembly must approve next year’s budget for it to be put into action. But according to the National Assembly Act, opposition lawmakers have an array of legal weapons to at least delay the budget, and force the ruling party to a compromise.

The Saenuri Party of course can force through the budget plan, as it holds a parliamentary majority, but experts say such action is unlikely considering the immense political firestorm unilateral action would bring on.

South Korean public opinion has traditionally frowned at unilateral legal action by ruling parties in past administrations, on the lines that the usually much mistrusted majority appeared to be bullying the weaker minority.

President Park Geun-hye’s approval rating fall coincided with the proposed increased taxes according to a Gallup Korea poll conducted from last Tuesday to last Thursday. About 47 percent said they disapproved while 44 percent said they endorsed the president, compared to 45 percent and 45 percent, respectively on Sept. 4.

By Jeong Hunny (hj257@heraldcorp.com)