Cheongju: Acting Budget Minister Lim Ki-geun on Wednesday pledged a "preemptive" approach to supporting vulnerable populations, highlighting an increase in the government's budget aimed at addressing blind spots in the welfare system. Lim made the remarks during a visit to a newly established welfare facility in the central city of Cheongju, where the ministry is working to identify and support vulnerable groups, such as households in crisis and low-income residents.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the government has allocated 424.6 billion won (US$292.5 million) this year for addressing welfare blind spots, reflecting an 18.9 percent increase from 357.2 billion won in 2025. Lim emphasized the importance of preemptively identifying households in crisis, particularly those that have failed to receive welfare support due to a lack of awareness or eligibility, and connecting them with both public and private welfare resources.

Lim noted that while the welfare system has reached a mature stage, with the welfare budget more than doubling over the past decade, it is crucial that policies remain practically accessible to those in need. The Cheongju facility is one of 150 centers nationwide that began operating in December last year. These centers are designed to distribute necessary supplies, such as meal kits and household items like toilet paper, to anyone in need, as stated by the ministry.