Seoul City Provides 500,000 KRW Cash to Special Employment and Freelancers Amid 'COVID-19' Crisis

Special Support Fund of 8.9 Billion Won for Those Below 100% Median Income... Deposited into Accounts in Order of Lower Income Levels

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] On the 3rd, Seoul City announced that it will provide a "special support fund" of 500,000 KRW in cash to 'special-type workers' and 'freelance workers' who are struggling to make a living due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis but are not eligible for unemployment benefits. These include after-school teachers at elementary schools, substitute drivers, and cultural center instructors.

The support targets special-type workers or freelance workers whose registered address as of the announcement date is in Seoul and whose household income is at or below 100% of the median income. Support is limited to one person per household and is provided only once.

These workers provide labor directly to consumers and receive compensation but cannot enroll in employment insurance, often excluding them from various COVID-19 related support programs. This group also includes sports instructors (trainers), insurance planners, performance-related personnel, and tourism service workers (drivers, guides, etc.).

Eligibility criteria include being uninsured under employment insurance as of the announcement date and having been unable to work for 20 days or more between February 23, when the COVID-19 crisis alert was raised to the "serious" level, and the announcement date, or having experienced a 30% or more decrease in average income in March-April compared to January-February or the previous year's monthly average income.

The special support fund is not distributed on a first-come, first-served basis but is allocated based on health insurance premium charges according to income. After the application period ends, recipients will be selected in order of lower income and paid accordingly. It can be received concurrently with the "Seoul-type Disaster Emergency Living Expenses," but those receiving unemployment benefits, Seoul-type self-employed survival funds, or Seoul-type COVID-19 youth emergency allowances are not eligible.

Various documents are accepted to verify eligibility and prove income reduction. For example, substitute drivers can use screenshots from the substitute driving app as proof of qualification and income reduction. Instructors at academies or cultural centers can substitute documents such as closure or suspension notices for proof of non-provision of labor. If employers hesitate to issue documents, applicants can prove income reduction with their payroll ledger, bank deposit confirmations, or bankbook copies.

Considering the urgent situation of workers whose means of livelihood have been temporarily cut off, the city decided to provide the support fund in cash rather than prepaid cards or gift certificates. The special support fund will be deposited no later than June 5, within four weeks from the application date.

Seoul City expects about 17,800 people to receive this special support fund and has secured a budget of 8.9 billion KRW, including 3 billion KRW from national funds and 5.9 billion KRW from city funds.

Citizens wishing to apply should prepare the relevant documents and visit the job-related department of the district office that has jurisdiction over their registered address or apply via email corresponding to the last digit of their birth year. Email applications start on the 6th, in-person applications start on the 11th, and the deadline for both is the 22nd of this month.

Detailed support criteria, contents, and required documents can be checked or downloaded from the Seoul City website (www.seoul.go.kr). For inquiries, contact the 120 Dasan Call Center or the Seoul City Labor Policy Office at 02-2133-5412, 2133-9502, or 2133-9503.

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