South Korea's government is getting ready to open up its wallet again, in hopes of staving off the worst effects of the global economic slowdown. Seoul is adding billions to a planned budget.
韩国政府已经准备好再度解囊，在计划的预算中追加数十亿美元，希望以此抵挡全球经济放缓带来的最恶劣的影响。
South Korean Finance Minister Yoon Jeung-hyun said Tuesday, out of a total supplemental budget of $20.7 billion, the government plans to spend more than $12 billion on projects and programs aimed at countering the global recession with the remaining $8 billion going to make up for shortfalls in tax revenue.
韩国企划财政部长官尹增铉星期二说，在207亿美元的增补预算中，政府计划用120多亿美元应对全球衰退的计划和项目，余下的80亿用于填补税收短缺。
He says the supplementary budget reflects the government's response to changing economic conditions both in Korea and internationally. He says the spending is aimed at overcoming the current crisis as quickly as possibly.
他说，增补预算是政府对于变化中的韩国及国际经济形势所做出的反应，这笔开支的目的是为了尽快克服当前的危机。
The money is an addition to the government's more than $205 billion budget for the year 2009, which must be passed by lawmakers. More than $9 billion of the supplmental budget, is targeted at stabilizing the livelihoods of low-income South Koreans and helping small business owners keep and create jobs.
这笔资金是对政府2009年2050多亿美元预算的补充。它必须经议员表决通过。增补预算中有超过90亿美元是针对稳定低收入韩国人的生计，以及帮助小商业主维持和创造工作机会。
The government plans to make cash payments, subsidized credit, and coupons redeemable for basic goods and services available to low income earners. Job training and unemployment benefits are also to be expanded.
政府计划为低收入者提供现金、补贴信贷以及可用于兑换基本生活用品和服务的配给券。工作培训和失业救济的范围也将扩大。
South Korea also intends to make cash fund regional projects, and invest in emerging industries seen as having growth potential, especially in environmentally friendly industries.
韩国还打算为地区项目提供现金资助，对有增长潜力的新兴产业、特别是有利于环境的产业进行投资。
Minister Yoon says the speed of the global economic slowdown has been surprising.
尹增铉说，全球经济放缓的速度令人吃惊。
He says the scope and depth of the downturn is happening at a faster pace than expected.
“衰退的速度从广度和深度上都超出了预期。”
South Korea's spending mirrors on a smaller scale emergency spending in the United States, following last year's collapse of several major U.S. investment banks.
韩国的支出是小规模版的美国紧急援助计划。去年美国主要的几家投资银行垮台后，政府开始提供紧急援款。
The U.S. Congress passed a $787 billion spending bill earlier this year.
今年早些时候，美国国会通过了一个7870亿美元的刺激方案。 |