Gwangju City Provides Up to 1 Million Won in Living Expenses Support for 'Cultural Artists'

Below 100% Median Income... Applications Accepted Until May 22

Gwangju City Hall

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Seon-gang] Cultural artists in the Gwangju area will receive living expenses support of up to 1 million KRW due to damages caused by COVID-19.

Gwangju Metropolitan City announced on this day that it will accept applications for living expenses support for low-income special employment workers and freelancers, as part of the 3rd livelihood stabilization measures to protect the local economy from COVID-19, from March 13 to April 22.

Eligibility requires applicants to be registered residents of Gwangju City from the 23rd of last month until the application date, working or active at a business located in Gwangju, and to be cultural artists in households with income at or below 100% of the median income. Eligible fields include literature, fine arts, music, dance, theater, film, entertainment, gugak (traditional Korean music), photography, language and literature, publishing, and comics, working as special-type workers or freelancers.

The support targets uninsured workers who have been active from three months prior to February 3, 2020 (November 3, 2019), the date just before the first confirmed COVID-19 case in Gwangju, and who have experienced an income reduction rate of 25% or more compared to income before and after February 3. Monthly support of up to 500,000 KRW (for up to 2 months) will be provided based on the amount of income reduction.

However, the total amount paid, including previously applied household emergency living expenses, special employment living expenses, and unemployment/leave living expenses, will be capped at 1 million KRW per household.

Applications can also be submitted by a proxy with a power of attorney.

To practice strict social distancing, applications will be accepted only through the city website from this day until the 19th. From the 20th until the application deadline on April 22, applications will be accepted both online and in person at the administrative welfare centers of the applicant’s address.

It is expected to take about 14 days from the application date to the payment decision, and payments will be made via prepaid Gwangju Sangsaeng Card.

Kim Jun-young, Director of the City’s Culture, Tourism, and Sports Office, said, “We hope this living expenses support will help artists in the Gwangju area who are experiencing economic difficulties due to COVID-19.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.