Gov't eyes food stamp program

SEOUL, Feb. 17 (Yonhap) -- South Korea is considering introducing a food stamp
program for the first time ever to better support low income citizens and the
unemployed, the country's top financial policymaker said Tuesday.
"For our upcoming extra budget proposal, we are devising ways to include various
measures for the low-income bracket such as a food stamp program," Finance
Minister Yoon Jeung-hyun said during an interpellation session at the National
Assembly.
South Korea's government is seeking to secure additional 15 to 20 trillion won
(US$14.3 billion) by the end of April to stimulate its troubled economy, as
forecasts suggest the national economy could shrink by as much as 4 percent this
year.
Yoon said last week that the economy could contract 2 percent in 2009.
The minister defended his government's plan to draft supplementary budget, saying
South Korea excels other members of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and
Development in terms of fiscal soundness.
He added that the government is tackling the current crisis through a
three-pronged strategy -- stimulation of demand, securing of next-generation
growth engines and development of contingency measures for exacerbated short-term
difficulties.
odissy@yna.co.kr
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