Nowon Cultural Foundation Provides Emergency Disaster Relief Fund of 1 Million Won Per Person to Local Artists

Seoul City to Provide 1 Million Won to Artists with Median Income 100% or Below for the First Time... Submit to Nowon Cultural Foundation 'Nowon Harang' or Email by 19th

[Asia Economy Reporter Jong-il Park] Nowon-gu (District Mayor Oh Seung-rok, photo) under the Nowon Cultural Foundation will provide emergency disaster relief funds of 1 million KRW in cash per person to local artists facing economic difficulties due to the impact of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19).

In Seoul, Nowon-gu is the first to do so, following Suwon City which provided 300,000 KRW for single-person households and 500,000 KRW for households with two or more people, and Incheon, Sejong, and Busan cities which each provided 300,000 KRW and 500,000 KRW per household.

The total budget is 10 million KRW, with 100 recipients, and if the number of applicants is insufficient, a re-announcement will be made.

The support target is artists currently residing in Nowon-gu as of the announcement date, who must obtain an artist activity certificate issued by the Korea Artist Welfare Foundation, and whose household income is at or below 100% of the median income standard. The median income standard is based on the April health insurance premium notice. However, basic livelihood security recipients, those receiving livelihood benefits among the lower-income class, participants in government or local government job support projects, beneficiaries of public program instructor fee support, and members of art organizations affiliated with Nowon-gu or Seoul city are excluded.

Applications are accepted from the 4th to the 19th, and applicants must submit the application form and required documents to the Nowon Cultural Foundation’s 1st floor Nowon Artist Support Counseling Center ‘Nowon Harang’ or via email (nowonfac@nowonarts.kr).

Results will be announced on the 23rd after reviewing the application and supporting documents, and the funds will be deposited into the applicant’s bank account on the 24th. Detailed information can be found from the 4th on the Nowon Cultural Foundation website under ‘Nowon-gu Artist Emergency Disaster Relief Fund Payment Announcement.’

The Nowon Cultural Foundation announced that it will extend the operation of the Nowon Artist Support Counseling Center ‘Nowon Harang,’ which was operated for 24 days from the end of April, from the 4th to the 19th of this month, and plans to operate ‘Nowon Harang’ regularly twice a month to continue supporting artists in Nowon-gu.

District Mayor Oh Seung-rok said, “I hope this support fund will be a small help to local artists who are struggling due to the suspension of artistic activities.”