Busan Gijang-gun, Infectious Disease Preparedness with 'All Residents Safety Insurance' Becoming Visible

Oh Gyu-seok, Mayor of Gijang County

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kang Woo-kwon] On the 26th, Gijang-gun, Busan, attracted attention by sending an official letter to insurance companies requesting the development and implementation of insurance products related to infectious diseases such as the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19).

Since July 11 last year, Gijang-gun has been enforcing the "Busan Metropolitan City Gijang-gun Residents' Safety Insurance Operation Ordinance." This ordinance stipulates necessary matters for subscribing to residents' safety insurance to stabilize the lives and improve the welfare of Gijang-gun residents who suffer damage from disasters or various accidents that may occur in daily life, in accordance with Article 4 of the "Disaster and Safety Management Basic Act."

The county holds the position that under the already enforced residents' safety insurance ordinance, insurance coverage is possible for infectious diseases such as COVID-19 for Gijang-gun residents. However, amendments to the residents' safety insurance enforcement regulations are necessary. If insurance companies develop the products, the county expects that adding infectious disease injury and death coverage to the existing Gijang-gun residents' safety insurance will require about 100 million KRW, making enrollment possible in the near future.

The residents' safety insurance, which has been implemented since January this year with a county budget of 300 million KRW, automatically enrolls anyone registered as a resident in Gijang-gun without any conditions regarding age, gender, occupation, or medical history, covering the period from January 1, 2020, to December 31, 2020.

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