Finance Minister Hong Nam-ki said on Sunday that it is too early to discuss the provision of a fourth round of emergency relief handouts geared at stimulating the economy hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Appearing on a KBS program, the minister said the nation should decide the issue after a comprehensive review of the circumstances, such as the quarantine situation, the degree of damage for businesses by the epidemic and the economic conditions.

Hong also said that if relief handouts are introduced, a selective provision for those most affected by the epidemic would be desirable, voicing opposition to a universal payout for all people of the country.

The minister warned that another round of relief handouts would require the government to issue bonds, which would increase the national debt and thus affect the country's sovereign credit rating.

The remarks came amid debate in the political circle over the introduction of a fourth round of emergency relief handouts and the universal payment for all people in the country.