"Both Seoul Emergency Living Expenses and Government Emergency Disaster Relief Funds Can Be Received"

Mayor Park Won-soon to Push for 2nd Supplementary Budget to Secure Additional 350 Billion KRW
"Will Definitely Share 20% of Government Disaster Relief Fund"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] Seoul citizens will be able to receive both the 'Seoul-type Emergency Disaster Living Expenses' of up to 500,000 won and the government’s 'Emergency Disaster Relief Fund' of up to 1,000,000 won to overcome the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19). However, Seoul City has maintained its position that it will only bear up to 20% of the local government’s share when the central government sets the local government’s contribution rate for the emergency disaster relief fund.

Mayor Park Won-soon said at the regular COVID-19 briefing on the morning of the 2nd, "There have been a flood of inquiries about whether citizens can receive both Seoul City and government support as the government’s emergency disaster relief fund overlaps," adding, "Above all, with the thought that citizens’ lives come first, we have made a decision to allow overlapping support."

He continued, "Seoul City will prepare additional funds amounting to about 350 billion won based on the government and local government contribution ratio of 8 to 2, according to the government’s policy for supporting the emergency disaster relief fund."

Mayor Park added, "We will do our best to secure funds through the second supplementary budget to raise 350 billion won," and said, "We will make a decision to cut off even one bridge. We will also give up important projects promoted by Seoul City."

However, when asked how Seoul would respond to the government’s additional contribution request, he replied, "Seoul City’s finances are very difficult and tight. Nevertheless, since the government has made a significant announcement to respond to the disaster, Seoul City will actively accept the government’s position and definitely match an additional 20% burden." This drew a line indicating that there is no room to increase the contribution rate of the emergency disaster relief fund beyond 8 to 2.

Seoul City also explained that the disaster emergency living expenses implemented through the city’s own first supplementary budget, separate from the central government, are already being paid.

Mayor Park said, "From the 30th of last month until this morning, 142,369 people have applied, and payments have been completed to a total of 25 people in just three days," adding, "Since it is a disaster situation, we will make payments quickly."

Meanwhile, Seoul City plans to purchase a total of 52,000 laptops to lend to low-income students and others in cooperation with the education office and autonomous districts ahead of the sequential online opening of elementary, middle, and high schools from mid-this month. The necessary budget of about 36 billion won will be borne by the city, the education office, and the autonomous districts in a 4:4:2 ratio respectively.

Seoul City also plans to support 800,000 cotton masks for students, 800,000 portable hand sanitizers, 110,000 bottles of Arisu water, 380,000 temporary partitions for school meals, and labor costs for substitute workers for school meal staff.

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