"Alleviating Financial Burdens" Gwangju Buk-gu Mobilizes for High Oil Price Relief Payment

Buk-gu District in Gwangju is making every effort to prepare for the distribution of the "High Oil Price Relief Payment" to revitalize the local economy, which is struggling due to soaring oil prices and high inflation. On the 20th, Buk-gu announced that it is focusing its administrative resources to ensure that the "High Oil Price Relief Payment" can be delivered to residents quickly and accurately.

View of Buk-gu Office in Gwangju.

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The "High Oil Price Relief Payment" is a policy designed to alleviate the financial burden on people's livelihoods, which has been exacerbated by the so-called "triple crisis" of high oil prices, high exchange rates, and high inflation following the Middle East war. Residents in the bottom 70% income bracket are eligible to receive up to 600,000 won in assistance.

Among all cities, counties, and districts in Gwangju and South Jeolla Province, Buk-gu has the largest number of eligible residents, with approximately 350,000 people. To prevent any confusion in the process, a dedicated task force team was formed on the 14th, led by the deputy district head. The team operates as four separate groups-overall management, payment support, appeals processing, and outreach services-with cooperation from nine departments at the main office and 27 local administrative welfare centers.

By April 27, when applications begin, all local administrative welfare centers will have separate reception desks in place, and a dedicated call center will be used to verify eligibility and handle various inquiries from residents. In particular, during the first week of payments-when a surge in applications is expected-a day-of-the-week system based on the last digit of applicants' birth years will be implemented, and additional personnel such as volunteers will be deployed on-site to minimize congestion.

A "visiting application service" will also be provided for seniors and people with disabilities who have difficulty moving. If a resident calls their local administrative welfare center, a public official will visit them in person to assist with the application process. Buk-gu plans to identify vulnerable groups in advance through its welfare department and proactively offer guidance, even if no request for assistance has been made.

A Buk-gu official stated, "This relief payment is an extraordinary measure to stabilize livelihoods in the midst of an economic crisis, and we are fully prepared to ensure smooth distribution." The official added, "We will do everything possible to promote the program and process applications so that not a single resident is left out."

Meanwhile, applications for the relief payment will be accepted from April 27 for recipients of basic livelihood benefits and those in the near-poverty group, and from May 18 for all other residents.

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