Jeongeup-si to Distribute '3rd Disaster Basic Income' Before Seol Holiday

Published 11 Jan.2022 14:15(KST)

[Jeongeup=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Jaegil] Jeongeup City in Jeonbuk announced on the 11th that it will provide the third disaster basic income of 100,000 KRW per person to all citizens before the Lunar New Year holiday.

Jeongeup City and the Jeongeup City Council held a press conference in the city hall's main conference room on the same day to announce the support plan for the third disaster basic income in Jeongeup.

This disaster basic income support for all citizens is the third support following those in May 2020 and January last year.

With the start of the new year, the payment was decided in consultation with the Jeongeup City Council to give hope to citizens and help the depressed local economy.

The recipients are approximately 107,000 people who continuously have their address registered in Jeongeup City as of January 10 this year until the application date, and the budget required is about 10.7 billion KRW from the disaster contingency fund.

The city plans to start payments as soon as possible before the Lunar New Year holiday and will provide the funds in the form of prepaid cards to revitalize the local economy.

The prepaid cards issued can be used only within the Jeongeup area until June 30, excluding large supermarkets and entertainment establishments.

Applications can be made by visiting the local eup/myeon offices or dong community centers from the 26th of this month to the 18th of next month.

The city has invested a total of 33.7 billion KRW on its own, including 21.4 billion KRW for two rounds of disaster basic income (100,000 KRW per person) related to COVID-19, 1.65 billion KRW to support 6,500 citizens excluded from the government’s mutual aid fund (250,000 KRW per person), and 10.7 billion KRW for this third disaster basic income.

This third support is also expected to provide relief to citizens facing difficulties, small business owners and self-employed individuals in serious crisis, and greatly help the recovery of the local economy.

According to big data analysis (October 12?31, 2021), the first disaster basic income (May?July 2020) increased card usage by about 3.1 billion KRW compared to the early COVID-19 period (February?April 2020), resulting in a 1.6% rise in local economic effect.

Also, the second disaster basic income (March?June 2021) helped recover the local economy, which had been stagnant after the first disaster basic income consumption, compared to the month before payment (January?February 2021).

A city official said, “We thank the citizens who are joining forces to overcome the crisis with mature civic consciousness and community spirit,” and added, “We hope this third disaster basic income will be an opportunity to repay the sacrifices and dedication borne by all citizens and to comfort their pain and suffering.”