Finance Minister Hong Nam-ki said the government will begin doling out the latest round of COVID-19 relief payouts for the general public ahead of the Chuseok holiday. 

Hong made the remark in an emergency economic meeting on Thursday. 

Each person in the lower 88-percent income bracket will receive 250-thousand won. 

The government earlier said the timetable regarding public relief payments will be decided depending on the COVID-19 situation, given the spending of the relief money’s possible impact on efforts to contain the pandemic. 

Minister Hong also ensured that 90 percent of small business owners eligible for the latest payments will receive the money before the holiday while promising the expansion of low-interest loans for the working class. 

Around seven to eight trillion won in cheap loans were initially scheduled to be provided, but the government plans to increase it to nine to ten trillion won.