Vice Minister Ki Jae: "90% of Domestic Mask Production Will Be Supplied to the Domestic Market"

Amendment to Emergency Supply Adjustment Measures Introduces Export Restrictions and Public Sales Supply
Effective from 0:00 on the 26th... Sales at Nonghyup, Post Offices, Pharmacies, and Convenience Stores

Kim Yong-beom, First Vice Minister of Strategy and Finance (left), held the 'Additional Measures Task Force (TF) Meeting for Mask Supply Stabilization' on the morning of the 26th at the Seoul Government Complex.

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyunjung] Kim Yongbeom, the 1st Vice Minister of the Ministry of Economy and Finance, announced that 90% of the daily domestic mask production (12 million units) will be supplied within the country.

On the morning of the 26th, at the 'Mask Supply Stabilization Additional Measures Task Force (TF) Meeting' held at the Seoul Government Complex, Vice Minister Kim stated, "We have revised the emergency supply adjustment measures to introduce mask export restrictions and supply through public sales channels." He added, "50% of the production volume will be secured and supplied as public stock and will be sold through Nonghyup, post offices, pharmacies, convenience stores, etc. We are focusing on enabling citizens to conveniently purchase masks near their homes and workplaces, even in small quantities, through this measure."

The publicly secured supply will be concentrated first in areas where mask supply is insufficient, such as Daegu and Gyeongbuk regions and low-income groups. Medical masks will also be provided to medical staff on the front lines of the COVID-19 crisis.

The price and purchase quantity of the public stock will be controlled through consultation with sales outlets. He explained, "The selling price of masks supplied publicly will be decided at a reasonable level through negotiations between producers and public sales channels. To allow as many citizens as possible to purchase masks, the sales quantity per person will inevitably be limited."

Furthermore, he emphasized, "We will strictly respond to smuggling and false declarations through rigorous customs inspections and on-site checks, as well as thorough comparison and analysis of reports to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety and customs declarations. We ask private sector personnel responsible for distribution to actively cooperate."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.