[2020 National Audit] "Gas Fee Reduction, 15% for National Merit Recipients... Less than Half for Disabled"

Half of National Independence Meritorious Persons and Disabled Individuals
Fail to Receive Urban Gas Fee Discounts
Many Unaware of Discounted Rates Due to Lack of Promotion
Kang Hoon-sik "Gas Corporation to Strengthen Promotion of Discount Eligibility"

▲City gas meter (Photo by Yonhap News)

[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] It has been revealed that only 15% of national veterans and less than half of people with disabilities receive discount benefits through the social consideration urban gas fee reduction system operated by Korea Gas Corporation.

According to the 'Status of Urban Gas Fee Reduction for Social Consideration Recipients' data submitted by Korea Gas Corporation to Kang Hoon-sik, a member of the National Assembly's Industry, Trade, Energy, Small and Medium Enterprises Committee from the Seobul Democratic Party on the 22nd, 42% of people with disabilities, 15% of national veterans, and only 30-40% of independence patriots and May 18 veterans receive urban gas fee discounts.

Korea Gas Corporation operates an urban gas fee reduction system for ▲people with disabilities (previously grades 1-3, based on the Welfare of Persons with Disabilities Act) ▲grades 1-3 disabled veterans (based on the Act on the Honorable Treatment and Support of Persons, etc. of Distinguished Services to the State and the Act on the Honorable Treatment of May 18 Democratic Patriots) ▲independence patriots or recipients (based on the Act on the Honorable Treatment of Independence Patriots) ▲recipients of livelihood benefits, medical benefits, housing benefits, and education benefits (based on the National Basic Livelihood Security Act) ▲some low-income groups and multi-child families among social consideration recipients (based on the National Basic Livelihood Security Act).

To promote this, the corporation provides guidance on how to apply for the reduction on its homepage, the homepages of regional urban gas companies, and on fee bills. However, it is difficult to recognize the discount system because the information is written in small letters as one of the notes on the fee bill.

Assemblyman Kang said, "It is a very desirable system to reduce urban gas fees by a small amount for social consideration recipients as part of welfare expansion," but pointed out, "Due to lack of promotion, only 15% to 40% of recipients benefit, and the corporation does not feel the need to expand promotion especially due to budget reasons, so the rate remains stagnant every year, which is problematic."

Assemblyman Kang emphasized, "Promotion should be strengthened so that recipients can enjoy welfare benefits, and I hope that through this national audit, recipients will check whether they are eligible and apply for fee reductions."