Half of Mask Production Supplied Publicly... Sales Volume Per Person Also Restricted (Comprehensive)

Government Holds Additional Task Force Meeting for Mask Supply Stabilization Measures

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyunjung] The government has decided to supply more than half of the masks produced domestically to public sales outlets and to limit the quantity sold per person.

On the morning of the 26th, the government held a task force (TF) meeting on additional measures to stabilize mask supply, chaired by Kim Yongbeom, First Vice Minister of the Ministry of Strategy and Finance, at the Seoul Government Complex, and announced this policy.

Vice Minister Kim stated, "90% of the daily domestic mask production (12 million units) will be supplied domestically, and 50% of the production will be secured as public stock and supplied through outlets such as Nonghyup, post offices, pharmacies, and convenience stores."

He continued, "Through this measure, we are focusing on enabling citizens to conveniently purchase masks in small quantities near their homes and workplaces."

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

The price and purchase quantity of the public stock will be controlled in 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 outlets," adding, "To allow as many citizens as possible to purchase masks, the quantity sold per person will inevitably be limited."

The TF meeting on additional measures to stabilize mask supply held that day aimed to finalize the mask distribution plan and prepare guidelines on mask selling prices and quantities. Vice Minister Kim said, "Going forward, through regular TF meetings, we plan to flexibly adjust the distribution plan of publicly secured masks by fully considering regional supply conditions, thereby maximizing the effectiveness of public supply."

He also emphasized, "While implementing strict customs inspections and on-site checks, we will rigorously respond to smuggling and false declarations through thorough comparison and analysis of reports to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety and customs declarations to the Korea Customs Service," and urged, "We ask private sector stakeholders responsible for distribution to actively cooperate."

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