Seoul Gangseo-gu 'Support for Female Adolescent Health and Hygiene Products'

Support for Purchasing Health and Hygiene Products for Low-Income Female Adolescents... Expanded Eligibility and Amount to Ages 9-24, Up to 144,000 KRW Annually

[Asia Economy Reporter Jong-il Park] Gangseo-gu, Seoul (Mayor Noh Hyun-song) is expanding support for health and hygiene products for low-income female adolescents.

The district is implementing the "2022 Female Adolescent Health and Hygiene Product Support Project" to guarantee the health rights of female adolescents.

The purpose is to help the healthy growth of low-income female adolescents and to reduce their psychological and economic burdens. In particular, the eligible age for support has been expanded to 9 to 24 years old this year. With the target age group significantly expanded from the previous 11 to 18 years old, more female adolescents can benefit. Also, the support amount has increased from 11,500 KRW per month to 12,000 KRW.

The eligible recipients are those receiving livelihood, medical, housing, and education benefits under the National Basic Livelihood Security Act, legally designated lower-income groups, and those eligible under the Single-Parent Family Support Act.

Applications can be made by visiting the local community service center in the area of residence or online through the Bokjiro website or mobile app.

For applications made by visiting the community service center, the adolescent applicant or their parent can apply. If it is difficult for the parent to apply due to circumstances or if the primary caregiver is not a parent, relatives, guardians, or legal representatives who are practically responsible for raising the adolescent can apply.

Once applied, support continues until the end of the year in which the adolescent turns 24, unless eligibility changes, so existing applicants do not need to reapply.

Adolescents who turned 19 this year and received support last year can receive support from May without a separate application. Adolescents aged 20 to 24 who received support before 2020 but had their support suspended due to age limits must reapply in May.

Support funds can be received from the month of application. The support amount is 12,000 KRW per month, up to 144,000 KRW annually, paid in two installments for the first and second half of the year. However, those aged 19 to 24 who receive additional support starting this year will receive support from May, up to 96,000 KRW annually.

The support funds can only be used with the National Happiness Card. The National Happiness Card includes BC, Samsung, Lotte, KB Kookmin, and Shinhan National Happiness Cards, which can be issued at nearby banks, card company call centers, online, or via mobile.

Purchasable items include disposable sanitary pads, tampons, menstrual cups, and other health and hygiene products sold on the market. Beneficiaries can select and purchase health and hygiene products according to personal preference at designated online and offline affiliated stores by card company.

As the eligible age group has been significantly expanded, the district plans to ensure that female adolescents do not miss out on benefits through active promotion of the project.

A district official said, "We hope that through this project, low-income female adolescents can enjoy a healthy life without economic worries," and added, "We will continue to do our best to create an environment where adolescents can grow up safely and healthily."

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