Naju City Begins Accepting High Oil Price Relief Fund Applications, Prioritizing Support for Vulnerable Groups

Naju City in South Jeolla Province has begun accepting applications for relief funds to stabilize the livelihoods of citizens struggling with high oil prices and inflation.

On April 28, the city announced that it had officially started accepting applications for the "High Oil Price Relief Fund" from the previous day (April 27).

On this day, Kang Sanggu, Acting Mayor of Naju City, visited the Dasimyeon and Munpyeongmyeon Administrative Welfare Centers to inspect the application sites and encourage the staff members who were assisting residents.

Acting Mayor Kang personally checked the application status and listened to citizens' concerns, requesting careful guidance to minimize inconvenience during the application process. He particularly emphasized the need for proactive support to ensure that the elderly and residents with mobility difficulties are not left out.

The city plans to first provide the initial round of payments to basic livelihood security recipients and single-parent families in the near-poor category, followed by a second round for general citizens whose incomes fall within the bottom 70 percent based on health insurance premiums.

The first application period runs from April 27 to May 8, with a designated weekday schedule according to the last digit of the birth year during the first week.

However, on May 1, which is Labor Day, only online applications will be available; offline submissions at administrative welfare centers and bank branches will not be accepted.

Those eligible but unable to apply during the first round, as well as general citizens, may apply during the second round from May 18 to July 3.

The relief amounts are 600,000 won for basic livelihood security recipients, 500,000 won for near-poor and single-parent families, and 150,000 won per person for general citizens (bottom 70 percent income bracket).

Kang Sanggu, Acting Mayor of Naju City (second from right), visited Dasimyeon Administrative Welfare Center to inspect the high oil price damage relief fund reception desk and encourage the staff.
[Photo by Naju City]

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The relief funds will be provided as prepaid cards or credited to credit/debit cards, and can be used at local small businesses with annual sales of 3 billion won or less, affiliated merchants of the Naju Love Gift Certificate, 12 regional Nonghyup Hanaro Marts in areas with limited consumer infrastructure, and public local food stores.

Use of the funds is restricted for online shopping malls, delivery apps, adult entertainment and gambling-related businesses, and cash conversion businesses. For delivery orders, the funds can only be used if payment is made in person at the affiliated merchant's terminal.

Applications can be made via card company websites and apps, the local gift certificate app (chak), or offline at the administrative welfare center or affiliated bank branches corresponding to the applicant's address.

For in-person applications, the relief funds will be provided as prepaid cards in accordance with government policy. The usage deadline is August 31, and any unused balance will automatically expire after this date.

To improve application convenience, the city operates a "visiting application service" for the elderly and citizens with disabilities or mobility issues, and actively encourages the use of the simple card application process.

Acting Mayor Kang Sanggu stated, "We are thoroughly reviewing the entire application process through on-site inspections," and added, "We will focus our administrative efforts to ensure that the relief funds are delivered to citizens as quickly as possible."

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