Gyeonggi Disaster Basic Income 'Smooth Sailing'... Strong Response to 'Illegal Kkang'

Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung is announcing the payment of disaster basic income.

[Asia Economy (Suwon) = Reporter Lee Young-gyu] Gyeonggi Province is making smooth progress with its economic welfare policy of giving 100,000 won each to all 13.6 million residents as 'disaster basic income,' the first among metropolitan local governments nationwide.

As of the 20th, 5,646,292 people had applied for the Gyeonggi Province disaster basic income, which began accepting applications from 3 p.m. on the 9th. This accounts for 41.5% of the total eligible population. Gyeonggi Province recently decided to extend the disaster basic income to foreign residents, including marriage immigrants and permanent residents.

Meanwhile, Governor Lee Jae-myung of Gyeonggi Province stated that it is unprecedented in history to be able to accept applications and execute payments within just 15 days after deciding to provide the disaster basic income, and he decided to award all related public officials.

Gyeonggi Province also plans to actively promote the 'Wise Consumption Campaign' to ensure that the disaster basic income, which was difficult to implement, circulates as sound consumption in local neighborhood markets.

However, where there is light, there is shadow. In response to concerns about the possibility of 'cash discount trading' (Kkang) of the disaster basic income, Gyeonggi Province will thoroughly track any fraudulent distribution, recover the paid amounts, and immediately take legal action.

◇ A 15-day war ending in perfect victory... All public officials awarded

Governor Lee Jae-myung posted on Facebook on the 19th, titled "15 days. The time taken from the policy decision on March 24 for Gyeonggi Province disaster basic income to actual execution on April 9," stating, "Related public officials successfully executed an enormous amount of work in just 15 days, including detailed policy design, coordination of opinions from 31 cities and counties, system design, consultations with financial institutions, coordination of legislative opinions, and ordinance enactment, targeting 13.6 million Gyeonggi residents, which is over a quarter of the population of the Republic of Korea."

He added, "Despite being a massive new project with no precedent, the disaster basic income was executed without confusion or inconvenience thanks to the Gyeonggi Province public officials who worked tirelessly through sleepless nights," promising paid leave and vacation allowances to all related public officials.

◇ Expanding the 'Wise Consumption Campaign' to penetrate neighborhood markets

Until the end of July, when the disaster basic income will be distributed, Gyeonggi Province will hold on-site events visiting local popular restaurants and stylish shops to promote sound consumption. Comedian Kang Sung-beom, broadcaster Kim Yong-min, and cultural critic Kim Sung-soo will participate, showcasing on-site sketches and mukbang (eating broadcasts).

The events will be broadcast live simultaneously 3 to 4 times a week from the 27th to the end of June via YouTube and AfreecaTV. A radio program will also conduct Q&A sessions about the Gyeonggi Province disaster basic income, giving prizes to listeners who answer correctly.

Events using social networking services (SNS) will also be held. By certifying the use of disaster basic income on Gyeonggi Province’s official Facebook account (@ggholic) and writing related episodes, participants can win prizes such as non-contact thermometers (worth 100,000 won) and local currency (10,000 won).

Additionally, events like 'Find the Certification Sticker' (June to July) and 'Empty Your Balance' (July) will continue until July.

◇ Disaster basic income 'Kkang' will result in recovery and legal action

Gyeonggi Province has decided to recover funds if the local currency provided as disaster basic income is traded at a discount ('Kkang'). Although Kkang still contributes to local economic revitalization since usage is regionally limited, there are concerns it undermines the policy's legitimacy.

Accordingly, Gyeonggi Province will track and punish all posters and related persons attempting any form of discounted trading of local currency on online secondhand marketplaces. Unfair profits and paid subsidies will be recovered. Under the current Electronic Financial Transactions Act, buying or selling prepaid cards or local currency cards, or advertising and soliciting such transactions, is punishable by up to three years imprisonment and a fine of 20 million won.

Governor Lee Jae-myung also appealed on Facebook, "Discount sales are sometimes used as plausible arguments by those opposing local currency or basic income, claiming it becomes a means of Kkang, or absurdly accusing the governor of being involved with organized crime funding," urging people to report fraudulent distribution via SNS such as Daechong Twitter and Facebook.

◇ From the 20th, applications accepted offline following online

From the 20th, Gyeonggi Province expanded disaster basic income applications from online to offline. Residents can apply for disaster basic income prepaid cards at 545 town, township, and neighborhood administrative welfare centers across 31 cities and counties, 216 NongHyup branches, and 725 local agricultural cooperative branches.

The prepaid card is intended for those who have difficulty using Gyeonggi local currency cards or credit cards. It can be used after receiving a usage approval text message 2 to 3 days after application.

Applicants can apply for the prepaid card by visiting their resident registration address’s town, township, or neighborhood administrative welfare center or the nearest NongHyup branch with their ID card.

However, to avoid congestion during the prepaid card application process, Gyeonggi Province divided application periods according to household size and birth year. Residents who miss their designated period can apply additionally on Saturdays and Sundays at town, township, and neighborhood administrative welfare centers.

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