Support Planned for Those at Risk of Falling Below Poverty Line

Government programs designed to rescue those who are likely to fall into “potential destitution” will be launched.

The Ministry of Finance announced on August 12 that they plan to hold a meeting at Cheong Wa Dae with President Roh Moo-hyun presiding on August 13. The meeting will discuss matters pertaining to the economic welfare of our nation’s citizens and ways to improve the living conditions of those in the lower income brackets.

The government is reviewing plans to increase salaries, provide sufficient medical access, provide a sound education, and encourage employment to those who are at high risk of falling into destitution. That group includes those whose incomes are just 20 percent more than what the government has defined as minimum living expenses (with the standard minimum living expenses of a family of four being 1.05 million won).

If the economy continues to stagnate, the government estimates that those whose incomes are along the lines of minimum living expenses will fall below the poverty line.

The government currently estimates that approximately 3.2 million are at risk of falling below the poverty line.

Officials at the Ministry of Finance and Economy stated that they will “find ways to improve the living conditions of those at risk of falling below the poverty line as soon as research on their actual conditions is reported from the Ministry of Health and Welfare.”

The government is currently providing a source of income, food, medical accessibility, and education to those classified as being below the poverty line.

Yong Park parky@donga.com