President Moon Jae-in has promised that the government will do its best to achieve its vaccination goals earlier than planned. 

Moon made the pledge during a meeting with his aides on Monday, after Moderna had informed South Korea its August delivery would be more than halved from the scheduled eight-point-five million doses due to production issues. 

Regretting that there is little that can be done with supply situations tied to a handful of overseas companies, President Moon said the government will maximize what vaccines it does have to move up its goal of inoculating 36 million people before the Chuseok holiday. The number of people to be vaccinated will also be raised, he said.  

The president said the government will speed up the development of homegrown vaccines so the country will not be swayed by foreign companies and actively pursue becoming a global vaccine supply hub. 

Moon thanked the public for their compliance on strengthened distancing rules, and sought further understanding over a decision to continue them for the time being. 

However, he stressed toughened distancing rules is an emergency measure to respond to the latest round of the pandemic, and addressed the need to further shore up vaccination rates, saying it will eventually help ease quarantine measures.