Government and Local Governments Dispatch Price Officers Nationwide to Monitor Prices

Minister Sang-min Lee Chairs 'Central-Local Policy Council'
Measures to Manage Inflation and Boost Domestic Demand
Maintaining Accident Prevention and Rapid Response System During Holidays

The government and local governments will dispatch price managers nationwide ahead of the Chuseok holiday to inspect regional prices. Currently, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety designates and operates price managers at the director-general level for each city and province to manage and monitor the price situation in their respective areas.

On the 6th, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety held the "7th Central-Local Policy Council" at the Government Seoul Office, chaired by Minister Lee Sang-min, to discuss and review measures for stabilizing people’s livelihoods and safety management during the holiday period.

The meeting was attended by officials from 17 cities and provinces and related ministries. At the "Central-Local Policy Council," the Ministry of the Interior and Safety guided matters requiring cooperation from local governments to ensure the smooth implementation of the "Chuseok Livelihood Stabilization Measures" on the ground, and local governments agreed to actively cooperate.

In particular, local governments will operate price stabilization situation rooms by September 13 to thoroughly manage prices. The Ministry of the Interior and Safety and director-general level officials from cities and provinces will be dispatched as price managers to cities, counties, and districts to inspect regional price trends and response situations for 20 major seasonal items.

Support will also be provided to revitalize the local economy. Public consumption will be stimulated by encouraging the use of welfare points from public institutions and local governments, and domestic tourism will be promoted by recommending the use of annual leave and remote work in the public sector before and after the holiday. In addition, various warmth-sharing programs through regional "Warmth Sharing Promotion Headquarters" will be implemented online and offline until the 13th to spread a culture of donation and volunteering. Minister Lee requested, "While ensuring thorough price management during Chuseok, related ministries and local governments should actively cooperate to swiftly implement policies for economic recovery, such as consumption promotion activities and additional local fiscal spending."

The meeting also addressed safety management measures to ensure a safe Chuseok holiday. During the focused safety management period from the 14th to the 18th, a 24-hour situation management system will be maintained among related ministries, local governments, and affiliated organizations to share disaster situations in real time and respond promptly to any disaster or safety accidents occurring during the holiday. The Ministry of the Interior and Safety requested that the emergency medical system be operated flawlessly to prevent any medical service gaps during the Chuseok period.

Furthermore, related ministries and local governments will conduct intensive safety inspections focusing on traffic accidents and fires, which frequently occur during Chuseok. In particular, the Fire Agency will conduct fire safety investigations in apartment underground parking lots, given recent electric vehicle fire incidents. Minister Lee urged, "Please maintain a thorough situation management system to minimize disaster and safety accidents so that the public can spend the holiday comfortably and safely."