Wubon: "180,000 People Benefited from 'Public Interest Projects' Last Year... Projects to Continue This Year"

by Jeong Ilwoong

Published 06 Jan.2025 16:02(KST)

The public interest projects of the Korea Post Headquarters are playing a solid supporting role for socially marginalized and vulnerable groups.

The Korea Post Headquarters (hereinafter referred to as KPH) announced on the 6th that last year it operated 13 public interest projects and public interest insurance in four areas: ▲post office infrastructure ▲support for marginalized groups ▲nurturing future generations ▲sustainable eco-friendliness, supporting about 182,000 people.

Provided by Korea Post Headquarters.

First, the number of local governments (regions) where welfare registered mail services were available increased from 60 in 2023 to 86 last year, leading efforts to identify and support marginalized groups.

This project is implemented by having postal workers deliver registered mail to vulnerable households while checking living conditions and identifying candidates for welfare support. Based on this, about 22,000 marginalized households were identified last year. KPH acted as a bridge to help these households receive support from local governments.

In addition, together with the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, KPH piloted the “Well-being Check Parcel” project (targeting 15 local governments), which regularly visits elderly and isolated households to prevent risk factors, thereby expanding support projects for marginalized groups.

Support for socially disadvantaged and vulnerable groups was also carried out simultaneously. Representative cases include providing free nursing services to 2,701 unattended patients without guardians and creating jobs for people with developmental disabilities at cafes operated in post office idle spaces.

As a public interest project to support future generations, KPH provided 246 young adults preparing for independence with 300,000 KRW monthly meal expenses, helping them prepare for a stable future and stand on their own as members of society. Scholarships were awarded to 1,257 vulnerable youth, and 240 children from families with disabled parents were able to receive cultural experiences, life management, and learning support through university student mentors, all part of KPH’s public interest projects last year.

A noticeable increase in public interest insurance subscribers was also cited as an achievement last year. Public interest insurance is operated to strengthen the social safety net.

One type of public interest insurance, the “Post Office Korea Mom Insurance,” saw new subscribers exceed 70,000 last year amid high interest from pregnant women. This insurance is designed to provide free coverage for rare diseases in children and pregnancy-related illnesses in pregnant women.

The “10,000 KRW Happiness Insurance,” which covers injuries for vulnerable groups, also had about 29,000 new subscribers. In addition, free subscription support was expanded for the disability-exclusive cancer insurance “Shoulder-to-Shoulder Insurance” and the “Youth Dream Insurance,” making a total of about 100,000 beneficiaries of Korea Post public interest insurance last year alone.

KPH plans to continue its social contribution activities this year with a budget of 11.5 billion KRW. In particular, it plans to strengthen welfare support by local governments using post office infrastructure such as the “Well-being Check Parcel” project and place greater emphasis on discovering and expanding support for socially disadvantaged and vulnerable groups.

Cho Hae-geun, head of KPH, said, “The post office is an institution that has grown with the love and trust of the people,” adding, “KPH will continue to sincerely engage in social contribution activities to discover neighbors in need of help and deliver warmth.”