Yoon: "Unlimited and Indefinite Emergency Agricultural and Livestock Price Stabilization Funds Injected" (Comprehensive)

Measures to Stabilize Shopping Cart Prices
Expansion of Support Targets for Agricultural Product Voucher System

President Yoon Suk-yeol is speaking at the Cabinet meeting held at the Government Complex Sejong on the 2nd. [Image source=Yonhap News]

President Yoon Suk-yeol stated on the 2nd, "The government will inject unlimited and indefinite emergency price stabilization funds for agricultural and livestock products until the prices of grocery items stabilize and the public can feel the difference, and will expand the scope of support." He also instructed to expand the target and scale of the ‘Agricultural Products Voucher’ system, which provides essential agricultural product purchase coupons, as vulnerable groups are the first to suffer when grocery prices rise.

President Yoon chaired a Cabinet meeting at the Government Complex Sejong that morning and said, "Although the upward trend in agricultural product prices has somewhat slowed since late March due to government discount support and the supply of imported fruits, prices are still at a high level."

He announced plans to extend the discount support and imported fruit supply measures, currently focused on large supermarkets, to small and medium-sized marts and traditional markets. He urged related ministries, "Please carefully monitor whether the government's support measures actually lead to price stabilization, and examine structural issues to prevent a recurrence of this situation in the future." He also ordered the activation of new distribution channels such as online wholesale markets to find the most efficient way to deliver products from producers to consumers.

Diagnosing that "the widespread cold damage caused by abnormal low temperatures and frost in April last year was the beginning of the rise in agricultural product prices," President Yoon added, "‘Smart orchards’ utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) and digital technology can be a good alternative, and in the long term, new varieties that can respond to climate change should also be developed."

President Yoon Suk-yeol is speaking at the Cabinet meeting held at the Government Complex Sejong on the 2nd. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Yoon: "North Korean Provocations Only Strengthen the Unity of the People"

Regarding North Korea’s ballistic missile launch into the East Sea on the same day, President Yoon said, "The North Korean regime continues military provocations including missile launches, trying to shake our society ahead of the general election," and added, "Such provocations only serve to bind the hearts of our people more firmly as one." He urged our military, "Please maintain full security readiness against any additional provocations from North Korea."

According to the Joint Chiefs of Staff, North Korea launched one projectile, presumed to be a medium-range ballistic missile, from the Pyongyang area toward the East Sea at around 6:53 a.m. The missile reportedly flew about 600 km before landing in the East Sea, according to the Joint Chiefs.

This was the eighth provocation by North Korea this year alone. It also came 15 days after North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un conducted a large-scale multiple rocket launcher (short-range ballistic missile) firing drill capable of striking all of South Korea on the 18th of last month.

Yoon: "Criminal Acts Undermining Election Fairness Must Never Be Allowed"

Regarding the upcoming general election next week, he said, "We must thoroughly prepare the entire process from early voting to the main voting and counting so that the public can safely and confidently cast their precious votes," and added, "Criminal acts that hinder the free expression of the people's will and undermine the fairness of the election, such as recently detected illegal cameras, must never be allowed to take root."

He also requested full support from all ministries for the government’s actively promoted after-school and care program for elementary students, Neulbom School. President Yoon emphasized, "Over 2,800 Neulbom Schools nationwide are operating steadily while overcoming various difficulties, and the government will spare no investment and support to ensure there are no shortages in space, personnel, and programs necessary for their operation."

On the same day, President Yoon visited Sejong City again after four weeks since chairing the Cabinet meeting, Neulbom School inspection meeting, and the 'Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters meeting on medical professionals’ collective action' on March 6. He said, "The President’s second office to be established in Sejong will take a step further to break down the walls between the Presidential Office and government ministries and become a space that brings us closer to the people."

He also mentioned his visit to Yuseong Sun Hospital in Daejeon the previous day, promising massive financial investment in the health and medical sector, and instructed related ministries to separately report the details and scale of the budget for medical reform.

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