Ruling Party and Government to Manage Chuseok Seasonal Goods Like Cabbage, Apples, and Eggs at Last Year's Price Levels (Comprehensive)

Kwon Seong-dong, Han Deok-su, Kim Dae-gi High-Level Party-Government Meeting at Prime Minister's Residence
Review of Highway Toll Exemption During Chuseok Holiday
No Restrictions on Private Gatherings This Chuseok
Up to 4 Million Won Support for Small Businesses Affected by Flood Damage

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] The ruling party and the government announced that they will manage the prices of 20 major seasonal products such as baechu (Korean cabbage), apples, eggs, and mackerel at the same level as one year ago for the upcoming Chuseok holiday. They also decided not to impose any separate restrictions on multi-use facilities or private gatherings during this Chuseok period.

On the 28th, Kwon Seong-dong, floor leader of the People Power Party, and other party leaders, along with Prime Minister Han Duck-soo and Presidential Chief of Staff Kim Dae-gi, held a high-level ruling party-government meeting at the Prime Minister’s official residence in Samcheong-dong and made this decision.

Regarding Chuseok livelihood measures, the ruling party and government stated, "Through comprehensive measures including the largest-ever supply of 230,000 tons of seasonal products and discount coupons worth 65 billion won, we plan to manage the prices of 20 major seasonal products such as baechu, apples, eggs, and mackerel to be close to last year’s levels." Discount coupons for agricultural, livestock, and fishery products, usable at large supermarkets and traditional markets, will offer discounts of 20-30%, providing up to 40,000 won in benefits per person.

Regarding transportation measures for returning travelers, they said, "We will strengthen quarantine measures for transportation facilities and means and provide convenience measures to ensure safe and comfortable travel." They added, "The ruling party actively requested toll exemption on highways throughout the Chuseok holiday period, and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport will actively review this." Regarding quarantine, "An additional 2,000 quarantine personnel, a 25% increase compared to before, will be deployed at highway rest areas, and at four rest areas including Gyeonggi Anseong Rest Area, free PCR testing, previously only for the elderly during the holiday, will be expanded to all citizens during the holiday period."

Regarding COVID-19 quarantine, they decided to guarantee the daily lives of citizens as much as possible. Accordingly, "Unlike last year, this Chuseok there will be no separate restrictions on multi-use facilities or private gatherings, and the medical response system will operate with face-to-face treatment at local clinics, designated hospital beds, and general medical system hospitalizations in parallel," they said.

Regarding flood damage support, after a joint investigation, additional damaged areas will be declared. Local governments will be encouraged to provide disaster relief funds to affected households before Chuseok, and if insufficient, the central government will consider advance payments.

For affected small business owners, separate national funds will be secured in addition to disaster relief funds provided by local governments, and up to 4 million won (2 million won from local governments and 2 million won from the central government) will be paid, similar to support for housing flood damage. Furthermore, the budget for small business wind and flood insurance for next year will be increased by more than 40% compared to this year.

Additionally, the ruling party and government agreed on measures to prevent recurrence of the Suwon three mothers death incident. They stated, "Even if individuals move their administrative address to another location, we will prepare policy and legal measures to identify their actual residence and provide protection without infringing on personal privacy."

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