"Errors Persist Over a Month and a Half After Launch" ... Workforce Expansion to Normalize Welfare System

Ministry of Health and Welfare Deploys 60 Personnel to Improve Next-Generation Social Security Information System

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] Since the launch of the 'Next-Generation Social Security Information System' last month, errors have continued to occur, and the issues have not been fully resolved even after a month and a half. The government has decided to increase the workforce by about 60 people to stabilize the system.

On the 18th, the Ministry of Health and Welfare held a meeting of the 'Next-Generation System Stabilization Task Force' chaired by Minister Cho Kyu-hong, attended by Roh Dae-myung, President of the Korea Social Security Information Service, and Kim Young-seop, CEO of LG CNS.

At the meeting, Kim, CEO of LG CNS, the lead company of the consortium executing the next-generation system project, promised to expedite system stabilization by deploying a total of about 60 additional personnel, including 20 already assigned, in consultation with consortium members such as Korea Information Technology and VTW. Roh, President of the Social Security Information Service, which operates and manages the system, also pledged to support the newly assigned personnel to perform their tasks promptly.

From Livelihood Benefit Payments to Rental Housing Supply, Multiple Disruptions

Previously, the government invested 122 billion KRW to build the next-generation social security information system, integrating welfare-related systems into one. The goal was to support faster and more efficient welfare administration and to more thoroughly identify welfare blind spots.

However, from the initial launch on the 6th of last month, problems arose in the social welfare facility support system, where tasks such as subsidy applications and facility personnel reporting were not properly processed. Additionally, cases of omission or underpayment occurred frequently for livelihood benefits and housing benefits paid monthly on the 20th to basic livelihood security recipients.

As issues occurred sequentially during the payment processes for disability pensions, basic pensions, and child allowances by local governments, a total of 102,410 errors were reported within just one month after the new system's launch. Particularly, during the university admission early application period last month, confusion arose as examinees applying under the basic livelihood security and near-poverty categories failed to receive qualification verification. In 125 rental housing complexes nationwide managed by Korea Land and Housing Corporation (LH), income and asset data required for eligibility verification were not confirmed, causing repeated delays in announcing successful applicants.

Uncertain Normalization Next Month Despite Workforce Expansion

The biggest cause of the ongoing system errors is identified as a shortage of personnel. Companies involved in the system development project explained that frequent turnover of developers led to a lack of continuity in work and delays in development schedules. Although 343 personnel were deployed this year by the next-generation system construction team, 307 of them have resigned. There are also criticisms that collaboration among consortium companies is not functioning well.

At the National Assembly Health and Welfare Committee audit on the 11th, President Roh stated, "Since the end of September through October, 61 developers have left," adding, "To overcome this situation, unless we recruit and supplement development personnel both inside and outside the consortium, there will be limits to the proper functioning of many features."

Although the government has decided to urgently deploy additional personnel, concerns remain that it may take more time for the system to operate stably. This is because new developers require at least 1 to 2 months to familiarize themselves with the system before performing their duties.

Minister Cho said, "We will do our best to promptly stabilize the next-generation system and ensure that social security benefits such as livelihood benefits and basic pensions, which are paid monthly, are delivered without disruption."

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