Government Allows Disaster Preparedness Special Grants to Be Used for Disaster Prevention

The government has decided to allow disaster preparedness special grants to be used not only for disaster response but also for disaster prevention going forward.

The government held a Cabinet meeting presided over by Prime Minister Jeong Hong-won at the Government Sejong Building on the 22nd to deliberate and resolve amendments to the Local Education Finance Allocation Act, which include these matters.

The amendment enables 10% of the Education Ministry's special grant funds—designated as disaster preparedness special grants—to be used for both disaster recovery and disaster prevention, and requires annual operational results to be reported to the relevant standing committee of the National Assembly by March 31st.

The government also amended the 'Enforcement Decree on Support for Companies' Voluntary Activities for Disaster Mitigation' to allow skilled personnel from various fields to participate in companies' disaster mitigation activities.

The amendment adds Construction Safety Technician and Construction Safety Engineer to the qualifications required for skilled personnel seeking to register as representatives to establish disaster mitigation activity plans, and adds urban engineering, geology, environment, international trade, and information communication to the relevant specialized fields.

The government also deliberated and resolved the 'Partial Amendment to the Enforcement Decree of the Act on Participation in International Financial Organizations' on contributions and investments totaling approximately 83 billion won to international organizations including the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

The new investment and contribution scales include ▲A trust fund for the IMF's poverty reduction and economic growth support (approximately 42.7 billion won) ▲An agriculture and food security fund of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (approximately 11.2 billion won) ▲An e-Asia and knowledge cooperation project fund of the Asian Development Bank (8.96 billion won) ▲A Korea-Africa economic cooperation trust fund of the African Development Bank (7.84 billion won) ▲A technical advisory cooperation fund of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (3.36 billion won) ▲A financial innovation cooperation fund of the Inter-American Development Bank (8.96 billion won) and others.

On this day, the government deliberated and resolved ▲Two bills ▲22 presidential decrees ▲Three general agenda items.