PM Chung urges parliament to swiftly pass extra budget for COVID-19
Arirang News
2020-04-20
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정 총리 "국민 삶, 벼랑 끝 내몰려…재난지원금 즉각 집행 중요"
Over at Seoul's National Assembly, Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun urged lawmakers to swiftly pass the government's 6-point-3 billion dollar budget supplement - the second one designed to help the nation overcome the COVID-19 led economic fallout.
Our political correspondent Kim Mok-yeon reports.
South Korean Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun has called on rival parties to swiftly pass the government's second extra budget proposal...to help households affected by COVID-19.
During his policy speech in parliament on Monday, Chung said that people's livelihoods are nearing their breaking point due to the pandemic.
He asked lawmakers to pass the proposal to help them in this difficult time.
"The government has been working around the clock to overcome COVID-19, but its still not enough. People's lives are on the brink of collapse. As Prime Minister, I stand here to help reduce the burden on our citizens."
Last Thursday, the government submitted an extra budget proposal worth around 6-point-3 billion U.S. dollars, which it says will be funded through its existing budget and through cutting costs.
The proposal seeks to provide emergency payments of around 820 U.S. dollars to households of four or more, with the amount varying depending on the size of the household.
Under the proposal, those whose income is in the lower 70 percent bracket will be eligible.
"We tried our best to distribute the funds to households that really need them. After considering the issue of fairness and the limited resources, we inevitably decided to exclude high-income households.
We ask for the public's understanding and cooperation."
The Prime Minister vowed his utmost efforts to cooperate with lawmakers and pass the government's supplementary budget proposal within the April extraordinary session, the last session of the 20th National Assembly.
Now the ball has been passed to parliament, and rival party leaders are expected to meet and deliberate on relief payment amounts and who will be eligible.
Kim Mok-yeon, Arirang News.
Over at Seoul's National Assembly, Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun urged lawmakers to swiftly pass the government's 6-point-3 billion dollar budget supplement - the second one designed to help the nation overcome the COVID-19 led economic fallout.
Our political correspondent Kim Mok-yeon reports.
South Korean Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun has called on rival parties to swiftly pass the government's second extra budget proposal...to help households affected by COVID-19.
During his policy speech in parliament on Monday, Chung said that people's livelihoods are nearing their breaking point due to the pandemic.
He asked lawmakers to pass the proposal to help them in this difficult time.
"The government has been working around the clock to overcome COVID-19, but its still not enough. People's lives are on the brink of collapse. As Prime Minister, I stand here to help reduce the burden on our citizens."
Last Thursday, the government submitted an extra budget proposal worth around 6-point-3 billion U.S. dollars, which it says will be funded through its existing budget and through cutting costs.
The proposal seeks to provide emergency payments of around 820 U.S. dollars to households of four or more, with the amount varying depending on the size of the household.
Under the proposal, those whose income is in the lower 70 percent bracket will be eligible.
"We tried our best to distribute the funds to households that really need them. After considering the issue of fairness and the limited resources, we inevitably decided to exclude high-income households.
We ask for the public's understanding and cooperation."
The Prime Minister vowed his utmost efforts to cooperate with lawmakers and pass the government's supplementary budget proposal within the April extraordinary session, the last session of the 20th National Assembly.
Now the ball has been passed to parliament, and rival party leaders are expected to meet and deliberate on relief payment amounts and who will be eligible.
Kim Mok-yeon, Arirang News.
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