Dongjak-gu Provides Living Support and Funeral Expenses for Democratic Movement Participants

From the 1st, Living Support Funds and Funeral Expenses to be Provided to Democracy Movement Participants and Bereaved Families...Apply at Local Community Service Centers...Monthly Living Support Fund of 100,000 KRW and Funeral Expenses of 1,000,000 KRW Provided

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Dongjak-gu (Mayor Lee Chang-woo) will provide living support funds and funeral expenses to democratization movement participants and their bereaved families who have dedicated themselves to democratization starting from July.

This support measure was prepared to repay the dedication of democratization movement participants who sacrificed for the country and contributed to national development.

The district will provide support in accordance with the "Seoul Metropolitan City Ordinance on the Treatment and Support of Democratization Movement Participants," enacted in July last year.

The support targets are democratization movement participants and their bereaved families who have registered their residence in Dongjak-gu, Seoul, and have lived there for more than six months. Monthly income must be below 100% of the existing median income for households. Those designated as "deceased" by the Democratization Movement Participants Honor Restoration and Compensation Deliberation Committee are considered "automatic recipients" and will be supported regardless of median income. However, those who are already receiving living support funds under other laws related to democratization movement participants, such as the "Seoul City Ordinance on the Treatment and Support of National Veterans," are excluded from the support.

The living support fund is 100,000 KRW per month, primarily paid to the democratization movement participant themselves. If the participant has passed away, the fund is paid to one of the bereaved family members according to the inheritance order under civil law.

Funeral expenses of 1,000,000 KRW will be provided to one of the bereaved family members or the person who actually conducts the funeral when a participant receiving the living support fund passes away.

From July 1, applications can be submitted by visiting the local community service center with the application form, a copy of the democratization movement participant certificate, and other related documents. The living support fund is paid at the end of each month, and funeral expenses are paid within 15 days after application.

For more details, inquiries can be made to the Autonomous Administration Division.

Choi Hwan-bong, head of the Autonomous Administration Division, said, "We have decided to provide support funds as a minimum courtesy to those who dedicated themselves to democratization," and added, "We will continue to do our best to improve the welfare of related persons."

The district has abolished age restrictions and residency requirements for veterans' honor allowances and, starting this year, provides both veterans' honor allowances and consolation money together to national veterans.