The floor leaders of the ruling Democratic Party and main opposition People Power Party pose for a picture after signing an agreement on Sept. 22, 2020, on the fourth extra budget drawn up this year to fend off the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
The National Assembly is expected to approve South Korea's fourth extra budget during a full-floor session on Tuesday.
The budget is aimed at further cushioning the economic fallout from COVID-19.
Earlier in the day, the floor leaders of the ruling Democratic Party and the main opposition People Power Party reached a last-minute agreement on the configuration of the 7.8 trillion-won supplementary spending plan.
At the center of the bill is a plan to dole out some 3.8 trillion won to more than 3.7 million people gripped by the latest resurgence of the virus.
This includes 3.2 trillion won to be distributed as stimulus cash handouts for some 2.9 million small business owners and self-employed people.
A controversial plan to offer support of 20,000 won in mobile service subsidies to all aged 13 and older has been scaled down to benefit only those aged 16 to 34 and people 65 years and older.
If the budget bill is approved, the government said it will aim to distribute the emergency assistance before the Chuseok holiday.
<Photo: Yonhap News>
