설 민생안정대책...중소기업•취약계층에 35조 원 지원

Seollal is coming up soon.
In preparation for one of the nation's biggest traditional holidays, the government is preparing various support measures.
The finance ministry announced detailed plans to help boost people's livelihoods.
Kim Hyesung outlines what they are.
The government has allotted 31 billion U.S. dollars worth of support to boost the local economy and support small business owners and the marginalized ahead of the three-day Lunar New Year holiday which starts on February 4th.
That's up 5-point-three billion dollars from last year.
29 billion dollars will be used to support small-and-mid sized companies and small business owners in the form of bank loans and loan guarantees.
80 million dollars will be set aside to support regions, including the southwestern city of Gunsan, that have suffered employment shocks due to restructuring in the auto and shipbuilding sectors.
The fund will be used to create public sector jobs and creating tourism infrastructure.
The government will also use 120 million dollars to create more jobs for the elderly.
To help stabilize consumer prices,... which tend to soar over the Lunar New Year due to higher demand for agricultural goods,... the government will increase the supply of 15 products such as lettuce, apples, beef, pork and chicken.
The amount of new year's gift certificates that can be used in traditional local markets, which are purchased by the government and public organizations, will be expanded to 500 million dollars, up 60 percent on year.
The government expects this to help small local merchants and the self-employed.
Also during the holiday, when millions plan to travel, highway tolls across the country will be waived.
Kim Hyesung, Arirang News.