191 Billion KRW Allocated in 5th Supplementary Budget for Disinfection at General Election Voting and Counting Stations

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwangho Lee] The government will additionally allocate 19.1 billion KRW in contingency funds to disinfect all voting and counting stations nationwide so that citizens can safely exercise their voting rights in the April 15 general election for the 21st National Assembly, despite the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19).

On the 31st, the government held a Cabinet meeting and approved the expenditure plan of 19.1 billion KRW from the general account contingency funds for this purpose.

First, 17.6 billion KRW of the contingency funds will be used to disinfect approximately 3,500 early voting stations and about 14,300 polling stations nationwide before and after the election day on April 15, and to provide hand sanitizers and medical gloves. The costs necessary for measures for symptomatic individuals such as those with fever are also included.

Additionally, 1.6 billion KRW of contingency funds will be allocated to subsidize up to 800,000 KRW per month in labor costs for production companies that supply masks to public sales outlets and have hired additional workers to stabilize mask supply.

As a result, the total contingency funds spent on COVID-19 response will increase to 931.3 billion KRW.

Previously, the first round of funds totaling 104.1 billion KRW was spent on emergency quarantine response support such as equipment and operation costs for screening clinics, expansion of inpatient treatment beds, and operation of temporary living facilities for Wuhan returnees. The second round allocated 5 billion KRW for managing Chinese international students and disinfecting national civil service exam sites. The third round invested 77.1 billion KRW for quarantine support in Daegu and Gyeongbuk Cheongdo, and home care support. The fourth round allocated 725.9 billion KRW for expanding treatment beds, equipment, and quarantine supplies, compensating medical institutions for losses, providing living support and paid leave for hospitalized and isolated patients, and installing and operating residential treatment centers.

Hong Nam-ki, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Strategy and Finance, stated, "This is to create an environment where citizens can safely exercise their precious voting rights and to secure a stable supply of masks." He added, "We will continue to provide thorough budget support to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and to achieve its early end."

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