Changwon City, Major Urban-Level Social Welfare Benefits Arrive with the Launch of Special City Status

<16th Ministry of Health and Welfare Notice, Inclusion of Special Cities in Metropolitan Area Section for Social Welfare Benefits>

Mayor Heo Seong-mu of Changwon is explaining the welfare benefits following the launch of the special city status at the Changwon City Hall briefing room. [Image source=Changwon City]

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Sang-hyun] Citizens of Changwon City, Gyeongnam, will enjoy the same social welfare benefits as metropolitan cities with the launch of the special city status.

On the 16th, the Ministry of Health and Welfare announced Notification 1, which includes special cities along with metropolitan cities in the large city category for social welfare benefits (basic property amount). The notification will take effect from January 13 next year.

Accordingly, Changwon City will apply all nine types of social welfare benefits, including the national basic benefits, based on the large city standards simultaneously with its promotion to a special city.

Through this, approximately 10,000 people who were previously excluded or downgraded in eligibility will receive an additional total benefit of about 17 billion KRW. Additionally, an annual fiscal expansion effect of about 14.6 billion KRW from national and provincial funds is expected.

First, the four types of national basic benefits (livelihood, medical, housing, and education benefits) will be announced, and the remaining five benefits (emergency welfare, basic pension, disability pension, single-parent family support, and near-poverty disability allowance) will be adjusted sequentially by the end of December in connection with the revision of the national basic benefits notification.

The city plans to distribute notices to all households so that citizens who benefit from the upward adjustment of social welfare benefit categories can apply as soon as possible, and will operate reception desks at each eup, myeon, and dong administrative welfare center.

Despite the city’s metropolitan city-level scale and high housing costs, the city has been subject to the small and medium-sized city category, resulting in unreasonably low benefit levels. To improve this, since 2018, the city has identified the upward adjustment of standards as a key task for the special city and has focused administrative efforts on securing special city authority.

Mayor Heo Seong-moo has proposed revising the notification to raise social welfare benefits to the large city category through over 20 meetings with government officials, including the Prime Minister, Minister and Vice Minister of Health and Welfare, and Vice Minister of Strategy and Finance.

He also cooperated with local members of the National Assembly to conduct urgent inquiries and propose alternatives at the National Assembly level, demanding improvements to the unreasonable social welfare system.

Mayor Heo said, "I ask citizens to refer to the promotional materials distributed to each household and apply for benefits to fully enjoy the expanded welfare benefits," adding, "We will ensure that the first start of Changwon Special City is felt through social welfare benefits equivalent to those of metropolitan cities."

Meanwhile, the official position of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries was confirmed regarding the authority for port facility development and operation, including the management rights of Jinhae Port, which was finally transferred by the Presidential Committee on Autonomy and Decentralization on the 5th of last month.

Starting January next year, Gyeongsangnam-do and Changwon City plan to proceed with the handover process and preparation stages, and will promote the revision of the 'Port Act' in the second half of the year to finalize the transfer of authority.

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