Hanam City to Begin "High Oil Price Relief Payment" on the 27th... Up to 550,000 Won Per Person

by Lee jonggu

Published 24 Apr.2026 09:42(KST)

Hanam City in Gyeonggi Province will provide a differentiated "High Oil Price Relief Payment" to citizens in the lower 70% income bracket in order to ease the economic burden caused by high oil prices and inflation. Depending on income level, each individual will receive support ranging from at least 100,000 won up to a maximum of 550,000 won.

Panoramic view of Hanam City Hall. Provided by Hanam City

The city has implemented a dual payment schedule to swiftly protect vulnerable groups with limited capacity to cope with crises. Recipients of the Basic Livelihood Security Program and the next-lowest income class will receive the relief payments first, starting on April 27. For all other citizens in the bottom 70% income bracket, payments will begin on May 18.

Specifically, Hanam City residents who are recipients of the Basic Livelihood Security Program will receive 550,000 won per person. Those in the next-lowest income group and single-parent families will each receive 450,000 won, while other qualifying citizens will receive 100,000 won each.

For convenience, citizens can freely choose from various payment methods, including credit/debit card recharge, prepaid card, or mobile local gift certificates when applying for the relief payment. All funds must be used by August 31; any remaining balance after this date will be automatically forfeited.

To prevent congestion at the start of the application period, a "day-of-the-week system" will be implemented during the first week, based on the last digit of the applicant’s birth year. On Mondays, applicants whose birth year ends in 1 or 6 may apply; on Tuesdays, those ending in 2 or 7; and on Wednesdays, those ending in 3 or 8. However, since Friday, May 1 is Labor Day and the system will be lifted, those eligible on Fridays (birth years ending in 5 or 0) can apply together with Thursday’s group (those ending in 4 or 9) on Thursday.

Online applications will be available 24 hours a day during the application and payment period, with submissions accepted until 6 p.m. on the final day. In-person applications can be made on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., while bank branches will be open until 4 p.m.

The places where the relief payment can be used differ depending on the payment method. When received as a local gift certificate, it can be used at affiliated merchants within the jurisdiction of the holder’s local government, just as before. If received as a credit/debit or prepaid card, the payment can be used at small business stores within the city with annual sales of 3 billion won or less. Online shopping malls, delivery apps, entertainment/gambling businesses, and cashable industries are excluded from eligible spending categories.

An official from Hanam City stated, "We hope this relief payment will serve as a catalyst to revitalize the struggling local economy," adding, "Hanam City will continue to quickly incorporate citizens’ feedback into city administration to deliver tangible changes."

Objections regarding payment decisions can be submitted from May 18 to July 17 via the e-People online civil petition portal or at the local administrative welfare center. The day-of-the-week system based on the applicant’s birth year will also be applied during the first week of objections.

Meanwhile, the city urged citizens to be on alert against smishing scams impersonating the government or financial institutions. The government, card companies, and operating agencies will never send text messages containing website addresses (URLs) regarding relief payments, so any messages with links should be deleted immediately and not accessed.