Oh Se-hoon Announces Public Recruitment for 500 Households in 'Safe Income Pilot Project' from March 28 to April 8

Recruitment of Households for 'Ansim Income Pilot Project' Marks Full Launch
Targeting 50% Median Income and Assets Below 326 Million KRW... First Payment on July 11 After Third Selection Process

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] The Seoul Metropolitan Government will publicly recruit 500 households to participate in the pilot project of the future welfare model, the ‘Ansim Income Pilot Project,’ for 12 days from the 28th to April 8.

On the 20th, Seoul announced that it plans to select 500 final support households in July after a three-month selection process targeting households with an income below 50% of the median income and assets below 326 million KRW. The 500 households finally selected will receive Ansim Income support for three years, starting with the first payment on July 11.

Through this public recruitment, Seoul will select not only 500 support households but also more than 1,000 comparison households. The comparison group is for verifying the effectiveness of the ‘Ansim Income Pilot Project,’ and changes in both the support and comparison groups will be investigated and studied in a time series over five years, including the three-year support period. The project will conduct an in-depth analysis of how Ansim Income affects seven key areas, including employment, household management, and attitudes toward life.

Households wishing to participate can apply online. They can access the application site directly or through the ‘Seoul Welfare Portal’ and the ‘Seoul Ansim Income Homepage’ via the ‘Apply for Ansim Income’ link. To prevent system overload, applications will be accepted on a day-of-the-week basis according to the last digit of the applicant’s birth year, after which applications can be submitted freely. Households having difficulty applying online can also apply through the Ansim Income call center, which will operate for five days from April 4 to 8.

Seoul will select 500 support households by July through a scientific sampling method conducted three times, considering household size, head of household age, and income level. Among the online applicants, 5,000 households will be sampled in the first round, then 1,800 households will be shortlisted after income and asset investigations, and finally, 500 households (and more than 1,000 comparison households) will be selected.

After the three-month selection process is completed, the first Ansim Income payment will be made on July 11. The 500 households in the final support group will receive Ansim Income support for three years and participate in research with the comparison group for five years. The support group will receive half of the difference between the median income 85% standard amount and the household income. For example, a single-person household with zero income will receive 827,000 KRW, which is half of the shortfall compared to 85% of the median income (1,653,000 KRW).

Ansim Income cannot be received concurrently with existing cash welfare benefits such as livelihood and housing benefits, basic pension, Seoul-type basic living security, Seoul-type housing vouchers, youth allowances, and youth monthly rent.

Meanwhile, Seoul will conduct a time-series investigation and study of changes between the support and comparison groups over five years, including the three-year support period. Starting with a baseline survey in May and June, the project will conduct biannual surveys (mid-term surveys) after implementation, a post-survey at the end of the project, and a follow-up survey one year after completion. The in-depth analysis will focus on seven major areas: work and employment, household management, education and training, housing environment, healthy living, family and society, and attitudes toward life, to assess the impact of Ansim Income.

Jung Soo-yong, Director of the Welfare Policy Office of Seoul, said, “In a situation where resolving welfare blind spots and addressing poverty and inequality have emerged as global challenges, Seoul plans to find a new welfare solution that guarantees a dignified life for all members of society through the Ansim Income pilot project, an income guarantee policy experiment. We ask citizens to show great interest and apply for participation in the Ansim Income policy experiment.”

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