SOUTH KOREA will draw up a supplementary budget expected to exceed 10 trillion won (US$9 billion), to help cope with the effects of the outbreak of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and an economic slump, a ruling party official said yesterday.

    “The government has told us 5 trillion won of the budget will be used to make up for tax deficits, while 5 trillion and some more will be for extra spending,” Saenuri Party floor leader Yoo Seong-min told reporters after a party meeting.

    Reuters confirmed Yoo’s comments with an aide, who asked not to be identified as he was not authorized to speak to media.

    Yoo said a meeting will be held with government officials early today to discuss the budget and economic policies for the second half of this year. The finance ministry will release its revised economic forecasts today as well as its policy direction for the rest of 2015.

    “Regarding the additional budget, the government has not prepared a precise list on where the extra spending will go. It’s dangerous to confirm the size of the budget when that list has not been made available yet,” Yoo said at the Saenuri meeting, according to comments published on the party’s website.

    The government confirmed 4 new cases of MERS yesterday, bringing the total number of cases to 179.(SD-Agencies)