S. Korea to earmark 13.5 bln USD as supplementary budget

South Korea would earmark 15 trillion won (13.5 billion U.S. dollars) as supplementary budget in the second half of this year to boost the lackluster economy hit by slowing exports and the outbreak of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), Yonhap News Agency reported Wednesday.

The finance ministry and lawmakers of the ruling Saenuri Party hold a meeting to decide on the size of the extra budget plan for the second half. The 15-trillion-won budget plan would be submitted to the National Assembly for approval next Monday, a ruling party lawmaker was quoted as saying.

The decision came as the South Korean economy was rattled by the MERS outbreak that led consumers to refrain from entertainment and consumption for contagion fears. Some of them delayed even going for shopping due to the fast spread of the viral disease.

No new case of MERS infection was reported for four straight days. The total contagion case was unchanged at 182 Wednesday, indicating the possible end of further spread.

Exports, which account for about half of the economy, declined for six straight months in June. Imports reduced at a faster pace than exports, sending the June trade surplus to a new record high of 10.2 billion U.S. dollars.

The ministry planned to help hospitals compensate losses from the MERS outbreak as some of the hospitals were closed for patients infected there.

It also planned to help hospitals set up facilities, in which infectees from possible viral diseases can be treated separately from other patients, while supporting companies which have suffered from operational losses after the MERS outbreak.

As farm goods prices surged amid the long spell of drought, the ministry would provide financial support to set up more irrigation facilities. Endi