Seocho-gu Health Certificate Issuance Fee Support Up to 17,000 Won and the Tearful Story Behind It?

Due to COVID-19 response, public health centers have stopped issuing health certificates, forcing residents to obtain them from private hospitals at 5-10 times higher fees (15,000-30,000 KRW) than the public health center fee (3,000 KRW), increasing residents' burden... Seocho-gu supports health certificate issuance fees up to 17,000 KRW.

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] As social distancing measures have been strengthened, workers in related industries are suffering significant damage. Meanwhile, health centers have stopped issuing health certificates (hereinafter referred to as health cards) to focus on COVID-19 prevention, causing a double burden as they have to pay expensive fees at private hospitals to obtain them.

The health center's fee for issuing a health card is 3,000 won, whereas private hospitals charge between 15,000 and 30,000 won, 5 to 10 times more expensive, increasing the burden on workers in related industries.

Seocho-gu (District Mayor Cho Eun-hee) is supporting the issuance fee for health cards to ease the burden on self-employed individuals and related workers, receiving great response from residents.

Residents of Seocho-gu, as well as business owners and workers operating within the district, can apply for support at the health center after obtaining a health card from a private hospital, and receive up to 17,000 won in reimbursement for the difference.

From last November to January 17, over 1,400 people have applied for support, with the number of applicants steadily increasing.

A resident who applied for support (Seocho-gu citizen, restaurant worker) said, “I earn 9,000 won per hour and my workload has decreased due to social distancing. Thinking that I had to pay an additional 17,000 won to get a health card was burdensome and even felt unfair, but I’m really glad Seocho-gu is providing support.”

Another resident (living in another district, restaurant owner) said, “I’m barely keeping my business open, and I’m grateful that Seocho-gu offers benefits even to people from other areas operating businesses here. I hope this system is implemented nationwide.”

As calls for nationwide expansion increase, about 20 local governments are benchmarking and considering adopting this policy.

Seocho-gu Mayor Cho Eun-hee stated, “Self-employed individuals and workers are facing economic difficulties due to COVID-19, so we decided to implement support for the difference in health card fees to help even a little. We will continue to promote policies that support local small business owners and ordinary citizens.”