Incheon City Prioritizes Disaster Relief Payments to Households Below 50% Median Income

Payment of 400,000 to 1,000,000 KRW per household from early May
City funds to be prioritized before national government support

Incheon Mayor Park Nam-chun is holding a press conference to explain the supplementary budget for 'COVID-19 response,' which includes emergency disaster living expenses support. March 26, 2020.
[Photo by Incheon City]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyesook] Incheon City will prioritize households with income below 50% of the median income to receive emergency disaster relief funds for COVID-19 starting early next month. Considering the delay in the government's supplementary budget and the lack of national funding support, the city is taking the initiative to provide support using its own resources.

The city will accept applications from about 109,000 households, including basic livelihood security recipients and lower-income groups, from April 27 to May 1, and plans to start distributing the funds as early as May 4.

The support amounts are the same as the government’s policy: 400,000 KRW for single-person households, 600,000 KRW for two-person households, 800,000 KRW for three-person households, and 1,000,000 KRW for households of four or more, paid in cash. However, for households unable to use bank accounts due to account seizure or other reasons, the funds will be provided via the local currency card "Incheon e-eum".

To reduce inconvenience for applicants, the city will notify eligible households of the payment plan via text messages and phone calls, and will distribute the funds to all households unless they explicitly decline to receive them.

The budget required for the support is 60 billion KRW, with 45 billion KRW allocated for basic livelihood security recipients and approximately 15 billion KRW expected for the lower-income group based on an average household size of 2.5 persons.

The city plans to cover the funds using the disaster management fund and disaster relief fund, and will replenish these funds once national funding support is provided.

For households not included in this initial payment, the city will ensure they receive support promptly once the government’s policy is finalized. Additionally, the city will expedite the supplementary budget process to secure additional funds and establish an online application system.

Mayor Park Namchun of Incheon said, "This decision was made considering the economic difficulties and urgent need for livelihood stabilization among low-income groups due to COVID-19," and added, "We will explore all possible measures to overcome this crisis wisely."

Meanwhile, Incheon City previously announced a plan to provide disaster relief funds ranging from 400,000 to 1,000,000 KRW to households with income below 70% of the median income (approximately 150% of median income), and to additionally support 370,000 households in the upper 30% income bracket excluded from this with 250,000 KRW per household.

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