(LEAD) S. Korea's relief aid for Haiti to jump to $5 million

(ATTN: UPDATES with remarks from foreign ministry spokesman, additional information
in paras 3-5, minor changes)

SEOUL, Jan. 18 (Yonhap) -- South Korea will likely boost its emergency relief aid
for quake-stricken Haiti to over US$5 million, an official at the foreign
ministry said Monday.
Seoul promised to provide a $1-million aid package, consisting of supplies and
rescue workers, soon after the 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck Haiti last
Wednesday, leaving hundreds of thousands either killed or injured and the capital
Port au Prince in ruins.
"The government is reviewing ways to expand our support for Haiti, considering
the seriousness of the damage from the earthquake and also our efforts to
increase our contribution to the international community," ministry spokesman Kim
Young-sun told a press briefing.
A group of 35 South Korean rescue workers arrived in Haiti late Sunday (local
time) and began providing various support efforts, ranging from search and rescue
to medical services, the ministry spokesman said.
The first shipment of emergency relief supplies, including medicine, was set to
arrive in the Caribbean country later this week.
"The $1 million aid package was the first batch of emergency relief aid provided
during the early stages of relief efforts. We will review comprehensive support
for Haiti as we are beginning to get a better picture of damage there," a
ministry official told Yonhap News Agency earlier in the day.
The official said the final amount of additional support for Haiti will be
decided at a joint meeting of government offices and civilian relief groups,
adding that it will likely exceed $5 million.
The ministry spokesman said the meeting will be held Tuesday and that the
additional aid will include "long-term" support that could continue even into
next year to help rehabilitate the impoverished country.
The move comes one day after South Korean President Lee Myung-bak said the
country will make additional contributions to international efforts to help
rebuild the Caribbean country while speaking to U.N. Secretary-General Ban
Ki-moon in a telephone conversation.
bdk@yna.co.kr
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