Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok, left, talks with an elderly citizen during his visit to her home in Seoul, Tuesday. Courtesy of Ministry of Economy and Finance

Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok on Tuesday highlighted the government's commitment to supporting the socially vulnerable population by promptly implementing budgetary measures next year.

"The government will do its utmost to execute next year's budget as quickly and effectively as possible to support vulnerable groups and alleviate the hardships faced by the elderly and other citizens," Choi said.

The minister made the remarks during a visit to the home of an elderly resident in Seoul on the eve of Christmas, the ministry said.

The government has announced plans to front-load 431.1 trillion won (US$300.2 billion), or 75 percent of the 2025 fiscal budget of 574.8 trillion won, in the first half of the year amid the prolonged economic slowdown. The government has said the spending will primarily focus on assisting low-income and other vulnerable groups.

Choi said the government will push to secure an additional 2,000 units of welfare housing for the elderly next year, nearly tripling the current supply of 1,000 units.

Additionally, the government is committed to swiftly executing a project included in next year's budget to create 1.1 million new jobs for the elderly, the minister added. (Yonhap)