At Least 100 Million KRW in Housing Support for Victims of Complete Destruction
Increased Subsidy Rate for Agricultural Machinery
First-Time Restoration Support for Small Business Owners
The government has secured a budget of approximately 300 billion KRW for wildfire damage restoration through the first supplementary budget bill for 2025.
This supplementary budget includes numerous items with significantly raised support standards, and for the first time, provides support for the restoration costs of factories and commercial buildings owned by small business owners and SMEs.
Park Hyungsu, a member of the People Power Party (Uiseong, Cheongsong, Yeongdeok, Uljin) and secretary of the National Assembly’s Special Committee on Wildfire Damage Countermeasures, stated, "More than 200 billion KRW has been additionally allocated to raise the support unit costs and subsidy rates for key items such as housing, agricultural machinery, and living expenses," and added, "Budgets for more than ten separate projects, including village-level wildfire damage restoration projects, were also increased during the National Assembly’s review process."
The main changes included in this supplementary budget are as follows: ▲At least 100 million KRW in housing support for victims whose homes were completely destroyed ▲Extension of the living expense support period from one month to up to twelve months ▲Increase in the agricultural machinery subsidy rate from 35% to 50%, and reduction of the self-payment rate from 10% to 5% ▲First-time support for the demolition and restoration costs of factories and commercial buildings owned by small business owners and SMEs.
In particular, the support for the demolition and restoration of factories and commercial buildings will be fully implemented once the Ministry of the Interior and Safety and the Ministry of SMEs and Startups establish the relevant criteria and, after consultation with the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the revised "Framework Act on the Management of Disasters and Safety" comes into effect (expected within about six months).
The funding for this supplementary budget will be covered by the 946 billion KRW disaster and calamity countermeasures fund.
It has been reported that Park secured the increase in the disaster countermeasures fund through a series of meetings with vice ministers from the Ministry of the Interior and Safety and the Ministry of Economy and Finance on April 10-11, near the final stages of the government’s supplementary budget preparation.
In addition to the disaster countermeasures fund, a variety of projects will be promoted, including village-level regeneration projects in wildfire-affected areas, the establishment of income support infrastructure for Songi mushroom farms, modernization of high-quality fruit facilities, support for agricultural machinery rental, reimbursement of Onnuri gift certificates in affected areas, forest management, support for the recovery of local businesses such as Dalgiyaksutang, advancement of production technology for affected companies, and the establishment of wildfire response centers.
Park emphasized, "The raised support standards and secured budget are significant progress, but there is still a long way to go for the complete recovery of affected residents," and added, "We will continue to work with the government to address the remaining issues."
Meanwhile, during the budget securing process, Kim Hyungdong (Andong, Yecheon) and Lim Jongdeuk (Yeongju, Bonghwa, Yeongyang), both serving as members of the Special Committee on Budget and Accounts, joined Park Hyungsu in a joint response, demonstrating strong cooperation among the region’s political representatives.
Park Hyungsu, member of the People Power Party (Uiseong, Cheongsong, Yeongdeok, Uljin), is conducting the Ministry of Economy and Finance Budget and Accounts Committee results report and consultation meeting on the 30th.
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