The government plans to submit an extra budget bill to the parliament later this month to cope with fine dust and boost the slowing economy and job creation, the finance minister said on Apr. 3, 2019.

Hong Nam-ki, the minister of economy and finance, said in a meeting with officials in Seoul that the government will draw up an extra budget by quickly reviewing requests from relevant ministries.

Hong Nam-ki, the minister of economy and finance, walks into a conference room at a government building in central Seoul on April 3, 2019.

He did not elaborate on the size of the extra budget.

Last month, President Moon Jae-in called on officials to draw up an extra budget, if necessary, to counter fine dust air pollution, which can cause various health problems.

Fine dust has blanketed South Korea in recent weeks, prompting calls for actions to reduce the particles smaller than 10 micrometers in diameter. Fine dust can cause various respiratory diseases and undermine the body's immune system. Ultrafine dust particles are smaller than 2.5 micrometers in diameter.

An extra budget is subject to parliamentary approval.

Last year, South Korea's parliament approved an extra budget bill worth 3.83 trillion won (US$3.54 billion) to create jobs for young people and help industrial regions grappling with massive layoffs. (Yonhap)

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