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The government has announced that it will strengthen support for the vulnerable and lower food costs as a measure once morest high inflation.
The plan is to lower the price by temporarily eliminating tariffs on seven items by the end of the year.
Because beef is included in this duty-free item, Korean beef farmers are protesting.
Reporter Lee Deok-young covered the story.
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With the inflation rate of 6% for the first time in 24 years, the government has come up with measures for people’s livelihood once more.
This is because although inflation-related measures have already been introduced four times in two months, there is no sign of coming down.
[윤석열 대통령]
“This crisis, triggered by global inflation, is testing our people’s ability to cope with the crisis through solidarity. It is now an emergency.”
This measure focused on increasing support for the underprivileged and lowering food costs by investing 800 billion won.
First, the unit price for energy vouchers for the underprivileged was raised from 172,000 won to 185,000 won, and the unit price for diapers and formula provided to single-parent families was also increased.
Tariff exemption items have also been added, and tariffs on seven items including beef, chicken and milk powder will be removed by the end of the year.
In particular, imported beef has risen by nearly 30% in just one year, becoming a major cause of inflation.
70% of domestic beef consumption is imported, with US and Australian sources accounting for 90%.
A 10.6% tariff on U.S. products and 16% tariffs on Australian products will be imposed, but tariffs will not be imposed only on 100,000 tons.
[이승빈]
“Beef is the most expensive meat among meat, so I think the cost is on the high side. Of course, Korean beef is also more expensive, and I think the cost of imported beef is higher than before.”
The government predicted a price cut of up to 8%.
Instead, he announced that it would support slaughtering fees per cow and extend the repayment period for feed costs to Korean beef farms.
However, the Hanwoo Association foretold a struggle once morest the government, such as rallies, saying that this measure would result in the closure of Korean beef farms.
[김영원/전국한우협회 정책지도국장]
“If there is a budget, wouldn’t it be more effective to support it when selling domestic agricultural and livestock products at a discount? This measure should be withdrawn because it can be seen that the damage that drives farmers into limbs is greater…”
He also feared that only importers and distributors would benefit rather than consumers actually benefit.
This is Lee Deok-young from MBC News.
Video coverage: Park Jong-il, Choi In-gyu / Video editing: Lee Sang-min
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