Seoul: South Korea on Wednesday ordered a crackdown on the hoarding of critical items such as medical syringes and petrochemical feedstocks amid supply concerns stemming from the ongoing Middle East conflict, Yonhap News Agency reported.

According to Anadolu Agency, Prime Minister Kim Min-seok issued these instructions during an emergency economic headquarters meeting, one of several bodies formed to coordinate the government's response to the US-Israel war with Iran. The government has prohibited the stockpiling of medical syringes and needles, as well as key petrochemical feedstocks like ethylene, propylene, and butadiene, due to concerns about potential shortages.

The prime minister urged relevant ministries to rigorously enforce measures against hoarding activities that could disrupt market order. Additionally, Kim emphasized the importance of implementing a 26.2 trillion-won ($17.7 billion) extra budget approved by the National Assembly last week, which includes financial assistance for the bottom 70% of income earners.