Presidential Office "Deliberation and Approval of COVID-19 Supplementary Budget... Yoon to Create a Forum for Cabinet Meeting Discussions" (Update)

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Ki-min Lee] On the 12th, President Yoon Seok-yeol held the first extraordinary Cabinet meeting at the Yongsan office and deliberated and approved a supplementary budget bill for compensation of COVID-19 damages. President Yoon emphasized his intention to make future Cabinet meetings not just a place for passing agendas but a forum for discussion.

Kang In-seon, spokesperson for the Presidential Office, announced after the Cabinet meeting in the afternoon that the supplementary budget bill was deliberated and approved, adding, "We expect the National Assembly's magnanimous cooperation so that the supplementary budget can quickly pass through the Assembly and be promptly delivered to small business owners, vulnerable groups, and those suffering from COVID-19."

At the first extraordinary Cabinet meeting, the second supplementary budget bill amounting to a total of 59.4 trillion won was deliberated and approved, which includes payments of 6 to 10 million won per person to 3.7 million small business owners and self-employed individuals who suffered losses due to COVID-19 business restrictions.

Regarding the Democratic Party's suggestion that a supplementary budget of 47 trillion won should be made, a key official from the Presidential Office stated, "Since the Cabinet meeting just concluded and the supplementary budget was resolved, it is too early to comment on that matter at this time."

Furthermore, Spokesperson Kang emphasized that President Yoon reiterated his intention to operate the Cabinet meeting as a free and candid forum during the extraordinary Cabinet meeting. He explained, "This extraordinary Cabinet meeting is significant as the first meeting marking the Yongsan era. The Blue House, symbolizing the imperial presidency, was already returned to the people upon inauguration," adding, "This Cabinet meeting was conducted reflecting President Yoon's work style of not being bound by formal frameworks or existing Cabinet schedules and aiming to fulfill promises as soon as possible."

He also mentioned regarding President Yoon's campaign pledge to hold Cabinet meetings at the Sejong Government Complex, "The first formal Cabinet meeting will be held at the Sejong Government Complex once the cabinet formation is completed."

Meanwhile, to meet the quorum requirement for the Cabinet meeting (11 Cabinet members), Minister of Health and Welfare Kwon Deok-cheol and Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Noh Hyung-wook, who were appointed during the previous Moon Jae-in administration and are still in office, attended. A Presidential Office official commented, "It seems the two who came agreed to help ensure there is no gap in state administration."

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