Seongnam City to Provide 500,000 Won Longevity Payment to Centenarians Starting Next Year

219 Expected Recipients
Payment in Local Currency and Issuance of Longevity Citizen Certificate

Seongnam City in Gyeonggi Province announced on December 5 that starting next year, it will provide a longevity congratulatory payment of 500,000 won to seniors turning 100 years old.

Seongnam City Hall exterior. Provided by Seongnam City

This new initiative is being introduced to honor and celebrate the health and lives of seniors who have lived for a century.

To this end, the city enacted the Ordinance on Respect and Support for Elderly Longevity (December 16, 2024) and completed consultations with the Ministry of Health and Welfare regarding the establishment of a new social security system on June 26.

During this process, Seongnam City initially planned to provide a longevity congratulatory payment of 1 million won, reflecting the significance of turning 100. However, the Ministry of Health and Welfare adjusted the amount to 500,000 won, citing its policy since 2023 of refraining from direct cash payments as the basis for the change.

The city expects to provide the longevity congratulatory payment to 219 centenarians (52 men and 167 women) next year, and has allocated a project budget of 109.5 million won in the main budget for the coming year.

The payment is available to seniors who have been registered residents of Seongnam City and have continuously lived there for at least three years.

The longevity congratulatory payment will be provided once, in the form of local currency worth 500,000 won, and recipients will also receive a longevity citizen certificate.

Applications can be made at the local administrative welfare center in the district of residence, starting from the month of the applicant's 100th birthday.

To accommodate the needs of the elderly, the city also plans to allow spouses, direct blood relatives or their spouses, as well as dedicated social welfare officials, to apply on behalf of eligible seniors.