COVID-19 relief funds in fourth extra budget to be paid out before Chuseok holiday

정부, 고용취약층•소상공인 지원금 '선지급 후확인'The latest round of COVID-19 relief funds - aimed at helping those hit hardest by the pandemic which includes the nation's roughly three million small businesses will be handed out before the upcoming Chuseok holidays at the end of the month.That's according to Seoul's finance ministry. Here's Eum Jiyoung.The South Korean government has announced that it will first distribute the relief funds from the fourth supplementary budget to all eligible applicants as soon as it can and will verify their qualifications later."The government will go all out to provide financial support before Chuseok for those who were hit hard by the pandemic... including the unemployed, vulnerable workers, small business owners, employers who have kept their workers for longer than 30 days, and parents with young children."The fourth supplementary budget is worth six-point-six billion U.S. dollars, including relief payments of various kinds.The Finance Ministry announced on Friday the guidelines for how it will distribute the payments and who is eligible to get them.Around two-point-seven billion dollars is set aside for small business owners who were hammered by the strengthened social distancing measures.A lump sum of 840 U.S. dollars will be provided for small businesses, including restaurants outside the capital area and wedding halls.Those who had to reduce their operating hours due to the social distancing restrictions, including restaurants and bakeries owners in capital area and franchise coffee shops will be provided with 1-thousand 260 dollars.And businesses that couldn't open at all, including cram schools and PC rooms, will get 1-thousand-680 dollars.People can apply online at the Small Enterprise and Market Service webpage or in person at district offices.Businesses who are in the adult entertainment or gambling industries, or those who are deemed wealthy, such as building owners who lease real estate, will not be able to get financial support from the extra budget.The government will check qualifications at a later date and any business that receives funds that it shouldn't qualify for will have to return the funds.Eum Ji-young, Arirang News.