[Asia Economy Reporter Eunbyeol Kim] The Japanese government is reportedly planning to include foreigners in the distribution of 100,000 yen (approximately 1.13 million won) per person as part of its measures against the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19).
On the 18th, NHK reported that the Japanese government decided to pay 100,000 yen per person to all individuals registered in the Basic Resident Register (equivalent to the resident registration system in Korea), regardless of nationality.
Accordingly, not only Japanese residents living in the country but also foreigners who have a residence status of over three months and have registered with the local municipality will be eligible to receive the payment. NHK reported that the plan is to send application forms from local municipalities, and if the head of the household fills in the bank account number and returns the form, the payment of 100,000 yen per family member will be transferred all at once.
There is also consideration of allowing online applications for those household heads who possess a My Number card (similar to Korea's resident registration number). NHK added, "The Japanese government is rushing to start payments by next month."
Initially, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced a payment of 300,000 yen to households whose income sharply declined as a COVID-19 response measure, but due to opposition from coalition parties such as Komeito, the policy was changed to a uniform payment of 100,000 yen per person.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
