Change of 'Emergency Disaster Relief Fund' Usage Area from June 4 When Moving to Another City or Province

No Limit on Number of Changes Based on Resident Registration Address... Only Credit and Debit Cards Accepted

The government's emergency disaster relief fund credit and debit card recharge application began at 7 a.m. on the 11th through the websites of nine card companies. Similar to the public mask 5-day rotation system, the application is subject to a day-of-the-week system, and from the 16th, applications can be made at any time. The support fund amounts are 400,000 KRW for single-person households, 600,000 KRW for two-person households, 800,000 KRW for three-person households, and 1,000,000 KRW for households of four or more. The photo shows a citizen visiting a community center in Jongno-gu, Seoul, looking at the support fund information notice on that day. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] Starting from the 4th of next month, those who had restrictions on using the government’s emergency disaster relief funds due to moving to a different city or province can apply for a change of usage area through their card companies.

The Ministry of the Interior and Safety announced on the 27th that from the 4th of next month, households who received emergency disaster relief funds via credit or debit cards and moved to another metropolitan local government area after the payment reference date of March 29 can apply for a change of usage area.

The change of usage area is only possible based on the metropolitan local government jurisdiction of the address registered on the resident registration. Applications for changes can be made on each card company’s website or call center until August 30, one day before the emergency disaster relief fund usage period ends, and there is no limit to the number of times the usage area can be changed.

The government initially planned to allow only one change of usage area, but considering public convenience, if the address has changed to another metropolitan local government, the usage area can be changed multiple times regardless of the number of moves.

Card companies will access the Ministry of the Interior and Safety’s server to verify the applicant’s city or province of residence as of March 29 and their current residence before processing the usage area change. From the day after the application, the emergency disaster relief funds can be used in the new area, and some card companies allow usage on the same day as the application.

The change of usage area applies only to emergency disaster relief funds charged to credit or debit cards. Applications for credit or debit card charging will be accepted only until June 5. Those who received emergency disaster relief funds through prepaid cards or local love gift certificates via local governments should note that usage area changes are not possible.

Yoon Jong-in, Vice Minister of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, said, "The government is continuously improving to enable citizens to use the emergency disaster relief funds conveniently."