The ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) and the government on Tuesday stressed the need for the active role of fiscal policy and investment in future industries to support the country's economic growth. "Above all, we should focus our fiscal capacity on securing leadership in future industries," DPK floor leader Han Byung-do said during a consultative meeting between party and government officials on next year's budget. He urged the government to set priorities on where and how to allocate the budget, emphasizing the need to strategically invest in areas supporting the youth, region-led growth and future industries. Echoing Han's call to boost future industries, Rep. Kwon Chil-seung, the DPK's chief policymaker, called for strategic investments in artificial intelligence (AI) to help Korea become one of the world's top three AI powerhouses. "The 2027 budget should play an active fiscal role, not only in supporting the country's growth but also its transformation," Kwon said, noting that investment should also be made in key sectors, such as bio, culture, defense and energy. On the gove