Seoul City-Seoul Foundation for Arts and Culture to Provide 100,000 Won 'Munhwa Nuri Card' to 450,000 Basic Livelihood Security Recipients and Low-Income Groups

This Year, 45 Billion Won Invested to Provide 100% Payment to All Basic Livelihood Security Recipients and Near-Poor Households Aged 6 and Above

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] The Seoul Metropolitan Government and the Seoul Foundation for Arts and Culture will provide the integrated cultural voucher "Munhwa Nuri Card," worth 100,000 KRW annually, which allows culturally marginalized groups to enjoy opportunities in culture, tourism, and sports, to all 450,000 basic livelihood security recipients and lower-income bracket individuals this year.

Seoul City announced that it has expanded its budget to 45 billion KRW, a 35.5% increase compared to last year, and will provide the Munhwa Nuri Card 100% to all basic livelihood security recipients and lower-income bracket individuals aged six and above this year. The number of beneficiaries will increase to 450,507, a 36% (110,000 people) rise from 332,448 last year. This is the first time since the issuance of the Munhwa Nuri Card that all eligible individuals will receive the card. Previously, only about 82% of the total eligible population was supported on a first-come, first-served basis.

Citizens wishing to receive the card can apply from February until November 30 through community service centers, the official Munhwa Nuri Card website, mobile apps, or by phone. Community service centers nationwide can issue the card regardless of jurisdiction.

This year, to facilitate card issuance for users under 14 years old, the eligibility for proxy applicants has been expanded. Previously, only legal guardians could apply, but now actual caregivers living in the same household as per the resident registration can also apply, allowing legal guardians, heads of households, and adult household members to apply on behalf of minors.

The card can be used at Munhwa Nuri Card affiliated stores nationwide until December 31 from the date of issuance. When swiped like a regular card, the amount is automatically deducted, and the remaining balance can be checked via the Munhwa Nuri Card app.

For those who already received and used the Munhwa Nuri Card last year, the amount will be automatically recharged without a separate application process, allowing continuous use this year as well. Seoul City has completed the recharge of support funds for about 290,000 card users from the previous year.

The Seoul Foundation for Arts and Culture plans to enhance user convenience as the support scale expands with a 100% beneficiary rate for the Munhwa Nuri Card. They will discover offline affiliated stores with good accessibility in each of the 25 autonomous districts and various online affiliated stores to expand the cultural enjoyment base for Seoul citizens and promote online and offline cultural activities. Additionally, to activate usage in the basic arts sector, they are preparing partnership services such as performance viewing for Munhwa Nuri Card users in cooperation with related organizations.

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