SEOUL – Those who violate physically distancing rules will not be eligible for an upcoming batch of emergency cash handouts, South Korea’s prime minister said today.
Chung Sye-kyun warned that a single infraction would rule out eligibility for the assistance, amid reports of some shops, restaurants and other businesses nationwide breaching set rules, Yonhap news agency reported.
“There are frequent cases of social commitments being ignored,” he said during a daily interagency meeting on the coronavirus response, held at the government office complex in Sejong, 120km south of Seoul.
He cited as an instance nightclubs in Seoul found ignoring public health rules during a recent inspection by police and city officials in the capital.
Chung added that no exceptions will be made for flouters of public health rules ahead of the fourth round of relief money.
The government and the ruling Democratic Party have agreed to allocate this year’s first supplementary budget to help the vulnerable, especially the self-employed and small business owners.
The payment is expected to begin as early as in March.
South Korea begins coronavirus vaccinations later this week, and Chung likened its start to a ray of light at the end of a tunnel. – Bernama, February 23, 2021
