Prime Minister Kim Min-seok urged local governments to swiftly draw up the "war extra budget," saying there is a possibility execution could be delayed until July due to local elections.
Kim presided over an emergency economic headquarters meeting at Government Complex Seoul on the 20th and said, "In some cases, current local government heads are running in the election, so because there are procedures in which the local government must draw up the budget and the local council must pass it, there is a possibility actual execution could be delayed until July."
He added, "The high oil price support fund will be paid to basic livelihood recipients, the near-poor, and single-parent households starting Apr. 27, and for the remaining 70% of the public, it will be executed starting May 18," and said, "The Ministry of the Interior and Safety should check and encourage local governments to swiftly draw up the related extra budget, and thoroughly prepare so that no confusion arises in the payment process."
Kim also said, "I have heard many reports that, due to high oil prices, the number of coastal ferry services has been reduced, causing inconvenience for island residents," and "The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and relevant ministries should swiftly prepare and implement plans to execute the related extra budget so that coastal ferries can be operated and run stably, as well as support measures for stabilizing ferry operators' management, and actively explain them to the operators."