The government has proposed a 604-point-four trillion won budget for next year, up eight-point-three percent from this year's budget.

The government confirmed the 2022 budget plan on Tuesday at a Cabinet meeting at the presidential office. 

Second Vice Finance Minister Ahn Do-geol said the government inevitably opted to maintain an expansionary fiscal policy in order to build infrastructure for South Korea to emerge as a leading nation while aiming to achieve strong economic recovery. 

The government allocated five-point-eight trillion won to quarantine efforts, including two-point-six trillion won to purchase COVID-19 vaccines. 

As efforts to address new polarization resulting from the pandemic, the government put aside 83-point-five trillion won, including 31-point-three trillion won to create more than two million jobs. 

The government also plans to spend nearly 217 trillion won on health, welfare and employment. It marks the first time for the budget for such areas to exceed 200 trillion won. 

The government also earmarked 12 trillion won to meet its goal to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.