Daegu City Closes Hope Support Fund Applications... 97.6% Application Rate, 237.5 Billion Won Paid

Newborns Can Apply Until October 8

Kim Tae-il, Chairman of the Committee for Supporting Low-Income Livelihoods, giving a press briefing on August 20 regarding the Daegu Hope Support Fund payment.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Dong-wook] Daegu City announced on the 27th that as of 11 PM on the 25th, the application for the 'Daegu Hope Support Fund' was closed, with 2,374,171 out of 2,432,436 citizens applying, showing an application rate of 97.60%.

By payment method, credit and debit card applications accounted for the largest portion at 72.57%. Citizens who visited administrative welfare centers to apply for Daegu Happiness Pay made up 13.33%, and cash payments accounted for 14.10%. Cash payments were limited to recipients of basic livelihood security living allowances, basic pensions, and disability pensions.

Compared to the government emergency disaster relief fund, the application rate showed little difference from the government emergency disaster relief fund (97.27%). On-site applications were 23.19% for the government emergency disaster relief fund, whereas for the Daegu Hope Support Fund, it was significantly reduced to 13.33% (Daegu Happiness Pay). This appears to reflect citizens’ learning effect from the high risk of infection due to crowding during on-site applications for the government support fund.

Daegu City will operate an objection period until October 8. Newborns born by September 25 can apply for Daegu Happiness Pay through the objection process.

Out of the 243 billion KRW budget for the Daegu Hope Support Fund, about 5.5 billion KRW is expected to revert to Daegu City due to non-applications. Additionally, after the final settlement following the usage deadline of November 30, any remaining budget will be used for COVID-19 response-related expenses.

Daegu Mayor Kwon Young-jin urged, "This Chuseok holiday could be a turning point to prevent the resurgence of COVID-19, so please refrain from traveling out of town and visiting crowded places as much as possible, and actively participate in the Mask WearGO Campaign (silent while eating and drinking, wear a mask while talking)."