"Not Money but a 'Heart Vaccine'..." Gijang-gun, Busan's First Basic Local Government to Provide 100,000 Won Second Disaster Relief Fund

Second Phase of Gijang-type Disaster Basic Income Injects 17.4 Billion Won ... All 173,000 County Residents
Online Applications from December 1, In-Person Applications from the 14th ... Until January 29 Next Year

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yong-woo] The second disaster basic income provided by local governments will be paid first in Gijang-gun among the basic local governments in Busan.

Gijang-gun, Busan, amid the resurgence of COVID-19, is spending 17.4 billion KRW to pay 100,000 KRW in cash per person to all 173,000 residents of the county through the ‘2nd Gijang-type Disaster Basic Income’ program.

The payment targets all residents registered in Gijang-gun as of November 16 until the application date, including marriage immigrants, permanent residents (foreigners), and overseas Koreans.

The application period is from December 1 to January 29 of next year. Online applications can be made from 10 a.m. on December 1 through the Gijang-gun Office website or the dedicated Gijang-type Disaster Basic Income site. In-person applications can be made directly at the administrative welfare centers of the resident’s address from December 14.

Both online and in-person applications will follow a five-day rotation system based on the last digit of the head of household’s birth year to comply with the government’s social distancing rules and to avoid congestion caused by simultaneous applications.

If the last digit of the head of household’s birth year is ▲1 or 6, the day is Monday; ▲2 or 7, Tuesday; ▲3 or 8, Wednesday; ▲4 or 9, Thursday; and ▲5 or 0, Friday.

On weekends, anyone can apply online regardless of the five-day rotation system. The five-day rotation system will be lifted for online applications from December 14 and for in-person applications from December 21.

To reduce inconvenience for residents during application, all required documents except the application form have been eliminated. Online applicants only need to fill out the application form, and in-person applicants only need to bring their resident registration card (foreign registration card, permanent resident card) and a copy of their bankbook.

Gijang-gun has been operating a dedicated call center since the 23rd to quickly respond to residents’ inquiries related to the disaster basic income.

Additionally, from the 24th, disaster safety text messages are being sent to strengthen publicity to residents regarding specific details such as the application period and methods. Notices will also be posted in local apartments and village halls.

Oh Gyu-seok, the mayor of Gijang-gun, said, “We are preparing to ensure that there are no disruptions in providing disaster basic income to the 173,000 residents who are going through a difficult time due to the resurgence of COVID-19.”

The mayor added, “Although the amount is small, I hope that the Gijang-type disaster basic income will be not just ‘money’ but a reassuring ‘vaccine’ of the heart, showing that neighbors and Gijang-gun are together overcoming these hardships for residents facing difficulties in their livelihoods.”

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