Gyeonggi-do to Pay 250,000 KRW Per Person to Top 12% Residents Starting October 1 (Comprehensive)

Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung (center) is holding a press conference on the 15th at the Gyeonggi Provincial Government briefing room with Kwak Sang-wook, chairman of the Gyeonggi Province Mayors and County Heads Association (Mayor of Osan), and Park Geun-chul, a member of the Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly from the Democratic Party of Korea, announcing that disaster relief funds of 250,000 won per person will be provided to the top 12% of residents in the province.

[Asia Economy (Suwon) = Reporter Lee Young-gyu] Gyeonggi Province will provide the 3rd Gyeonggi Province Disaster Basic Income of 250,000 KRW per person to approximately 2,537,000 residents, the top 12% income group excluded from the central government's co-prosperity national support fund payment starting October 1.

Accordingly, all residents of Gyeonggi Province will be able to receive the disaster basic income.

On the 15th, Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung held a press conference and stated, "Today, the budget bill including the 3rd Gyeonggi Province Disaster Basic Income passed the provincial council plenary session," adding, "Gyeonggi Province has comprehensively considered the quarantine situation where the increase in confirmed cases has somewhat stabilized and the need to stimulate additional consumption at the time when nearly 90% of the government's co-prosperity national support fund has been paid, and decided to provide the disaster basic income starting October 1."

Governor Lee explained, "Since announcing the policy to provide Gyeonggi Province Disaster Basic Income to residents excluded from the government's co-prosperity national support fund on August 13, Gyeonggi Province has been in close consultation with the provincial council," adding, "There are people who are policy-wise excluded from the government's co-prosperity national support fund. The purpose of the 3rd Gyeonggi Province Disaster Basic Income is to support those in such blind spots, complement government policy, and enhance the completeness of the policy."

He continued, "Excluding people from disaster basic income support just because they have high income can be an unreasonable discrimination. K-quarantine is an achievement made together by all citizens. Compensation should be fairly distributed to all citizens who actively cooperated with and sacrificed for the government's quarantine measures," emphasizing, "The Gyeonggi Province Disaster Basic Income, paid as temporary local currency, will flow into neighborhood markets and become a much-needed relief for small business owners and micro-entrepreneurs."

The Gyeonggi Provincial Council approved the 2021 3rd supplementary budget for Gyeonggi Province, including 637.9979 billion KRW for the 3rd Disaster Basic Income, on the same day.

The target recipients of the 3rd Gyeonggi Province Disaster Basic Income are the top 12% income earners among Korean nationals and foreigners residing in Gyeonggi Province as of midnight on June 30, who were excluded from the government's co-prosperity national support fund.

The province estimates a total of 2,537,000 recipients, including 2,521,000 Korean nationals and 16,000 foreigners. The payment amount is 250,000 KRW per person, the same as the government's 5th disaster support fund.

■ Online applications start October 1, on-site applications start October 12

The province will accept applications for the disaster support fund for the top 12% income residents through both online and on-site methods. Online applications will be accepted from October 1 to 29, from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily for one month.

Applicants can apply online for the disaster basic income by selecting either the existing Gyeonggi local currency card or one of 13 major credit card companies. On the 'Gyeonggi Province Disaster Basic Income Application Website,' which opens at 9 a.m. on October 1, applicants can check their eligibility and select the card company to receive the deposit. The disaster basic income can then be used with all cards issued by the selected card company.

Unlike the 1st and 2nd disaster basic income, the online application will apply an odd-even system based on the last digit of the birth year instead of a day-of-the-week system. The odd-even system will be applied for four days from October 1 to 4. On October 1 and 3, residents whose birth year ends with an odd number can apply, and on October 2 and 4, residents whose birth year ends with an even number can apply. From October 5 onward, applications can be made regardless of birth year, including weekends and holidays.

Residents who find online application difficult can apply on-site from October 12 to 29. By bringing identification and visiting the administrative welfare center in their resident registration area, they can apply for the disaster basic income in the form of a prepaid Gyeonggi local currency card.

Applicants can receive a Gyeonggi local currency card available at the administrative welfare center on the day of application or recharge their existing card. Applications are accepted only on weekdays from Monday to Friday, between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m., and no service is provided on weekends or holidays.

To minimize on-site congestion, the province will implement the same odd-even system for the first four days of on-site applications based on the last digit of the birth year. Therefore, on October 12 and 14, residents with an even last digit of their birth year can apply, and on October 13 and 15, residents with an odd last digit can apply. From October 18 to 29, all residents can apply. When applying on-site (offline), 250,000 KRW will be charged to the Gyeonggi local currency card by the next day after the application date for use.

Foreigners are subject to the same eligibility criteria as the government's co-prosperity national support fund. The 3rd Gyeonggi Province Disaster Basic Income will be provided to marriage immigrants, permanent residents, recognized refugees, and those registered in a household with at least one Korean national who are excluded from the government's co-prosperity national support fund. Foreigners can only apply on-site at administrative welfare centers from October 12 to 29.

■ Usage until December 31. Usage locations are the same as the government's co-prosperity national support fund

The disaster basic income can be used from the date of receiving the approval text message until December 31. Any unused amount after this period will be reclaimed.

The places where the disaster basic income can be used are the same as those for the government's co-prosperity national support fund. Payments made at eligible locations within the resident registration city or county using credit or debit cards will automatically be deducted from the disaster basic income.

Gyeonggi Province plans to strongly respond to fraudulent receipt of the disaster basic income. If someone receives duplicate payments of the Gyeonggi Province Disaster Basic Income through false or fraudulent means after appealing the national support fund, the full amount may be reclaimed according to relevant laws and penalties will be imposed. In particular, the province considers illegal acts such as 'card kkang' (illegal resale of local currency cards) and overcharging during local currency payments as criminal acts and plans to strictly handle offenders and illegal merchants through reports, franchise cancellations, and tax investigations.

Governor Lee urged, "Please actively report any cases of secondhand trading of local currency cards or discriminatory acts through Gyeonggi Province SNS or the Gyeonggi Province Call Center (031-120)."

He added, "Although the COVID-19 crisis continues without end, we have overcome many difficulties together through strong solidarity for the community of residents. As the highest quarantine official of Gyeonggi Province, I am endlessly grateful and also sorry to the residents. I hope this 3rd Gyeonggi Province Disaster Basic Income will be a small opportunity to reward the sacrifices and dedication shared by all residents and to comfort their pain and suffering."

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