Hampyeong-gun to Provide 'Emergency Living Support Fund' Due to COVID-19 Impact

Separate from Government Support... 1,939 Households and a Total of 1.107 Billion Won Supported

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] Hampyeong-gun, Jeollanam-do (Acting Governor Na Yunsu) is providing emergency living support funds for vulnerable groups in the region who are struggling due to COVID-19.

According to Hampyeong-gun on the 31st, a total of 1.17 billion KRW will be provided to 1,939 vulnerable households in the area, and the funds will be paid in local currency (Hampyeong Sarang Gift Certificates).

As the COVID-19 situation has prolonged, the county expects this emergency living support fund to play a role like rain in a drought, as stabilizing the lives of vulnerable groups and revitalizing the local economy through consumption stimulation have become urgent.

The ‘Emergency Living Support Fund’ being provided this time differs from the ‘Emergency Disaster Relief Fund’ announced by President Moon Jae-in on the 30th in terms of target recipients and payment amounts.

While the government’s emergency disaster relief fund is paid to the bottom 70% income group including the middle class, Hampyeong-gun’s emergency living support fund targets only vulnerable groups such as basic livelihood security recipients and lower-income classes.

On the other hand, in terms of support amounts, Hampyeong-gun’s emergency living support fund is set somewhat higher than the government’s plan (1 million KRW for a 4-person household), with a maximum of 1.4 million KRW for livelihood and medical benefit recipients of a 4-person household, 1.08 million KRW for housing and education benefit recipients and lower-income groups, and 520,000 KRW for facility recipients (1 person).

However, both support funds are paid differently depending on the number of household members, and overlapping support is expected to be possible depending on eligibility.

The county’s emergency living support fund will be paid over a total of four months from next month through July. Considering the timeliness of the policy, the county plans to set a concentrated distribution period and aims to complete the payment of the emergency living support fund by mid-next month at the latest.

In addition, considering the regional reality where many elderly people have difficulty moving, a ‘visiting service support team’ will be formed, and a village-by-village touring application and payment system will be promoted.

For 17 local social welfare facilities such as nursing homes for the elderly, where small-scale group infections have been occurring nationwide, the facility heads will also be allowed to receive and distribute the emergency living support funds on behalf of each eligible person through a ‘facility post-management system.’

This is intended to minimize congestion in fund applications and to block face-to-face close contact as much as possible as part of ‘social distancing.’

Going forward, the county plans to intensively promote precautions related to the emergency living support fund through the county website and sending notices to target households.

Na Yunsu, Acting Governor of Hampyeong-gun, said, “Due to the spread of COVID-19, various gatherings and group activities have been restricted, and the difficulties of small business owners caused by sluggish consumption are increasing day by day. We hope that this emergency living support fund, which is paid entirely in local currency, will breathe new life into the local economy, which has been depressed due to the cancellation of the Butterfly Festival.”