Nowon-gu to Provide Up to 800,000 KRW per Person as Special Support Fund for Instructors During Public Facility Closures

967 Instructors Apply for Contracts of Former Directly Managed and Consigned Public Programs... Up to 800,000 KRW Cash Paid Per Person Based on Expected Individual Income Loss, Totaling 462.9 Million KRW

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Nowon-gu (Mayor Oh Seung-rok) will provide special support funds for instructors who are suffering economic hardship due to the suspension of public facility programs in the district.

As the reopening of public facilities, which have been closed due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, continues to be delayed, the economic difficulties of instructors who were scheduled to operate programs within these facilities are increasing.

Accordingly, the district has joined forces with the Nowon Education Welfare Foundation to support instructors who are effectively unemployed but are not eligible for unemployment benefits or other assistance.

The support targets instructors who had contracts to conduct public programs at district-operated and commissioned institutions from February to May. This includes a total of 967 instructors across 59 facilities, including district and community centers, foundations, and cultural center commissioned facilities.

The total budget for the support fund is 462.9 million KRW. Instructors of programs at community centers, libraries, and welfare centers will receive 227.7 million KRW from the Education Welfare Foundation’s COVID-19 donation fund, while other instructors will receive 235.2 million KRW from the Nowon-type Employment Retention Support Fund.

The amount paid per individual varies according to the instructor’s estimated income loss.

If the loss due to program suspension is 1 million KRW or less, 300,000 KRW will be paid; if the loss exceeds 1 million KRW but is 2.5 million KRW or less, 500,000 KRW will be paid; and if the loss exceeds 2.5 million KRW, 800,000 KRW will be paid.

This special support fund can be received concurrently with the special employment and freelancer support funds provided by Seoul City last month. However, it is limited to one payment per person, and duplicate receipt of the district’s special support fund is not allowed. For example, even if an instructor is active in both community center and library programs, the support fund will be calculated based on the total loss amount and paid up to a maximum of 800,000 KRW.

The support funds will be paid in cash so that instructors, whose livelihoods have been cut off, can use them for necessary expenses such as utility bills and transportation costs.

The district plans to disburse the special support funds promptly. The community centers operating the programs and relevant departments will verify eligible recipients and required documents, contact instructors individually to receive applications, and the Job Economy Division and Education Welfare Foundation, as the overseeing departments, will complete the final document review and payment by the 5th.

Additionally, a survey on the special support fund will be conducted to measure outcomes and utilize the results for future service provision.

Currently, the district operates lifelong education center programs such as computer and mobile phone literacy improvement programs, barista training, and sewing classes directly.

Moreover, 19 community centers in the district run various community programs related to residents’ daily lives, including table tennis, line dance, and Japanese language classes.

Commissioned facilities such as libraries and welfare centers operate special programs tailored to each facility, including adult humanities, English book clubs, Korean language classes, and art therapy, providing residents with opportunities for learning and leisure.

Mayor Oh Seung-rok said, “Instructors are excluded from unemployment benefits and leave allowances, so the economic impact of COVID-19 is inevitably greater for them. We hope this support will provide practical help to instructors outside the employment safety net,” and added, “We will actively strive to support those in blind spots who are suffering due to COVID-19.”