Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun has called on the National Assembly to swiftly pass an extra budget bill worth 15 trillion won that aims to help those hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

In a policy speech before the National Assembly on Friday, Chung said the country’s finances will collapse if people’s livelihoods break down. 

The prime minister likened the extra budget plan to a “livelihood treatment” that lessens the suffering of those devastated by the pandemic and to a “livelihood vaccine” that wards off deeper societal polarization. 

The supplementary budget is aimed at financing the government's fourth round of COVID-19 relief to bolster small businesses and vulnerable groups. The relief package will be worth 19-point-five trillion won, including four-point-five trillion won from this year's budget. 

Lawmakers will begin reviewing the extra budget from next week.