Jeon Hae-cheol: "COVID-19 Support Funds to Be Distributed Smoothly Through Central and Local Cooperation"

Meeting of 243 Local Government Deputy Heads Chaired by Minister of the Interior and Safety
Urging Smooth Implementation of Public Support Funds, Small Business Compensation, and Chuseok Livelihood Stabilization Measures

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] On the 30th, Jeon Hae-cheol, Minister of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, held a central-local policy council meeting with related ministries and all 243 local governments nationwide participating, urging the smooth payment of the COVID-19 Coexistence National Support Fund.

At the meeting held via video conference, Minister Jeon said, "Through this Coexistence National Support Fund and small business loss compensation, we expect to comfort many citizens affected by the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, secure a safety net for daily life, and contribute to the local economy." He added, "Since prompt support is urgent, each local government should thoroughly prepare and execute so that citizens can feel the effects in a timely manner. The central and local governments should cooperate together and proceed with speed."

At the meeting, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety announced detailed implementation plans including the application and payment procedures and usage locations for the National Support Fund, and requested thorough prior preparation and cooperation from local governments to ensure the fund is executed quickly and smoothly at the front lines. In particular, to enable local residents to conveniently receive and use the National Support Fund, they urged local governments to secure sufficient payment methods such as prepaid cards and local love gift certificates, and actively cooperate to expand the number of affiliated stores accepting local love gift certificates.

Additionally, to minimize inconvenience to local residents, they requested local governments to expand call center personnel and proactively prepare to operate ‘visiting applications’ for the elderly and disabled.

The Ministry of SMEs and Startups introduced the loss compensation system introduced to compensate small business owners who received direct government quarantine measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 for their business losses, and requested local governments to prepare thoroughly and actively support for smooth and accurate loss compensation and business execution at each support stage, including opening reception desks within basic local governments, establishing cooperation systems with regional SME offices, and grasping the status of quarantine measures by institution.

Furthermore, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety requested cooperation on ▲strengthening quarantine management of academies, unauthorized educational facilities, and sports facilities ▲2021 Chuseok holiday livelihood stabilization measures, and also collected suggestions on local issues. With concerns that the livelihood economy may worsen due to rising prices of major seasonal goods ahead of Chuseok, they encouraged local governments to implement meticulous countermeasures and create conditions for affiliated public officials to devote themselves to livelihood tasks by promoting proactive administration related to quarantine and livelihood work.

Meanwhile, Yoo Eun-hye, Deputy Prime Minister for Social Affairs, also attended the meeting and urged the implementation of preemptive prevention and strengthened quarantine measures for academies and unauthorized educational facilities in line with the start of school semesters and university openings at all levels.

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