Additional 20% Discount on Government Rice Sales for Vulnerable Groups

Temporary Price Reduction for Sales from September to December

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs announced on the 20th that, as part of the Chuseok livelihood stabilization measures, government rice will be sold at an additional 20% discount from September to December to vulnerable groups such as recipients of housing and education benefits, the near-poor class, and basic livelihood security facilities.

Since 2002, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs has been supplying government rice at a discount directly to households of vulnerable groups, including basic livelihood recipients, via delivery services to ensure basic food supply and livelihood stability for low-income citizens. Depending on the support target, the rice is sold at a discount ranging from 50% to 90% of the regular price.

An official from the Ministry stated, "This additional discount on government rice is part of measures to alleviate the burden on low-income groups, who are particularly affected amid ongoing price uncertainties such as rising oil prices. From September to December, we plan to supply government rice at an additional discount of about 20% on top of the current prices to recipients of housing and education benefits, the near-poor class, and basic livelihood security facilities, whose discount rates are relatively low."

Since the government rice delivery period starting in September overlaps with the Chuseok holiday, the Ministry plans to closely cooperate with local governments and related companies in processing and delivery to ensure timely supply of government rice.

Jeon Han-young, Director of Food Policy at the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, said, "Through this additional discount on government rice, we expect to reduce the rice price burden by about 2.4 billion KRW by the end of the year, thereby easing the living expenses burden for vulnerable groups to some extent. The government will continue to develop measures that citizens can feel directly, and at the same time, we will thoroughly manage all processes including procurement, storage, management, processing, and sales of government rice to provide high-quality government rice."

(Photo) [Image source=Yonhap News]

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