Seoul: South Korea's fiscal deficit grew markedly during the first nine months of 2024, the finance ministry said Thursday, partly due to increased expenditure. The managed fiscal balance, a key gauge of fiscal health calculated on stricter terms, posted a deficit of 91.5 trillion won (US$65.1 billion) in the January-September period, up 20.9 trillion won from the same period last year, according to the finance ministry. According to Yonhap News Agency, this year's tally was the third-largest figure for the cited period. The shortfall amounted to 108.4 trillion won in the first nine months of 2020. The deficit is nearly in line with the 91.6 trillion won forecast for the year, as outlined in this year's budget. A ministry official, speaking on condition of anonymity, stated, "Given the ongoing revenue shortfalls, it is likely that the managed fiscal deficit will continue to grow as the year progresses." Total expenditure rose by 24.8 trillion won from a year earlier to 492.3 trillion won during the cited pe riod as the government increased spending on supporting health care insurance subscribers and welfare programs, according to the ministry. Meanwhile, total revenue increased by 3.1 trillion won year-on-year to 439.4 trillion won over the same period.