Koo Yun-cheol, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister, said, "We will mobilize all available means, including reviewing a declaration of special disaster zones for Geoje and Tongyeong in South Gyeongsang Province, which suffered damage from the torrential rains."
Koo, the deputy prime minister, said this at a joint meeting of the Emergency Economic Headquarters, the meeting of ministers related to economic affairs, and the task force (TF) of ministers for special management of household prices, which he chaired at Government Complex Seoul on the 20th.
Koo said the government would push joint measures across relevant ministries to ease burdens on prices caused by the heat wave and torrential rains and to stabilize people's livelihoods. Koo said, "To stabilize grocery prices such as agricultural, livestock, and fishery products, we will arrange large-scale discount events," and added, "We will also respond to unfair transactions by monopolistic platforms, collusion, and acts that deceive consumers."
He went on, "The notice banning hoarding of urea solution and syringes, which expires at the end of August, will be extended by two more months in light of supply and demand conditions," adding, "As import conditions for urea solution improve with China's allocation of export quotas, we will ease the criteria for determining hoarding, such as inventory levels."
Meanwhile, the government plans to announce at 7 p.m. on the 21st the ninth maximum oil price to be applied from midnight on the 22nd. The current maximum oil price level, based on refinery supply prices, is 1,784 won per liter (L) for gasoline, 1,773 won for diesel, and 1,380 won for kerosene.