Yoo Hae-sook, CEO of Incheon Welfare Foundation, is reporting on the establishment of the Incheon Welfare Standard. 2020.10.29 [Photo by Incheon City]
[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyesook] Incheon City has derived the Incheon Welfare Baseline to establish a dense and strengthened social safety net tailored to the region's characteristics.
On the 29th, the city announced that it has prepared the Incheon Welfare Baseline by setting minimum and appropriate standards in five areas closely related to citizens' lives: income, health, housing, education, and care.
Regarding the appropriate standards by sector, in the income area, efforts are focused on ensuring that citizens can enjoy at least 50% of the median income, which is the relative poverty line defined by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). In the health sector, the focus is on improving citizens' health levels and closing health disparities.
In the housing area, the emphasis is on limiting housing rent to less than 25% of household income and minimizing disparities in housing conditions. In the education sector, the goal is set to guarantee a lifelong adult education participation rate of over 40%.
Regarding the care sector, care recipients are classified into children, persons with disabilities, and the elderly to minimize care gaps.
Key tasks to realize the welfare baseline include implementing the Incheon-type basic security system, supporting income improvement through job expansion, expanding public medical infrastructure, increasing public rental housing, and expanding the Dahamkke Care Centers, among 29 priority tasks and 118 action tasks.
To this end, the city plans to invest a total of 10.8 trillion won over the next five years, including 2.4 trillion won from the city budget.
The Incheon Welfare Baseline was prepared through more than 70 meetings and discussions involving researchers, public officials, and a citizen evaluation group.
At the final report meeting of the Incheon Welfare Baseline, Mayor Park Namchun stated, "The Incheon Welfare Baseline means that appropriate living standards have been specifically set so that all citizens can enjoy a dignified life," adding, "We will strive to realize practical and sustainable welfare policies."
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