Mapo-gu Provides 100,000 KRW Living Support Fund to 13,171 Vulnerable Households

Disaster Relief Fund of 1 Million Won Provided to 176 Daycare Centers - Excluding Workplace Daycare Centers, Suspended and Administratively Sanctioned Facilities

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Mapo-gu (Mayor Yoo Dong-gyun) will provide financial support to low-income vulnerable groups, daycare centers, local children's centers, and local artists who are struggling due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic.

This is part of the Seoul Metropolitan Government and autonomous district cooperative livelihood measure called the 'Crisis Overcome Disaster Relief Fund.' The district will provide a 100,000 KRW 'Living Support Fund' in cash on the 14th to low-income vulnerable groups such as basic livelihood security recipients, legally designated lower-income groups, and single-parent families, per person.

The living support fund, aimed at stabilizing the livelihood of vulnerable groups, will be paid to the representative account of each eligible household as of the payment reference date (March 26, 2021) without a separate application process.

If it is difficult to receive the support fund via bank transfer, eligible recipients can visit their local community service center with identification from the 14th to receive the living support fund.

Additionally, the district will provide a 'disaster relief fund' of 1 million KRW per facility to local daycare centers affected by long-term closures due to COVID-19.

Currently, daycare centers are facing severe operational difficulties as childcare fee income has decreased due to COVID-19-related closures, while operating expenses for emergency childcare continue to be incurred.

This support fund, provided to alleviate these difficulties, will be paid to 176 daycare centers in the district, including public, private, and home-based centers, excluding workplace daycare centers. It is expected to help create a stable childcare environment by supporting employment retention of childcare staff, improving meals and snacks, and COVID-19 prevention measures.

Furthermore, the district plans to expand the scope of support, which had been focused on self-employed and small business owners, by providing disaster relief funds to local children's centers facing operational crises due to expanded emergency care services and to local artists struggling with creative activities, thereby addressing blind spots in support benefits.

Yoo Dong-gyun, Mayor of Mapo-gu, said, "We will concentrate all administrative efforts to promptly provide support funds to help compensate for economic damages, even if only slightly, to overcome the crisis." He added, "Although everyone is going through a difficult time due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, I hope everyone will actively participate in social distancing as they have been to enable a quick recovery to daily life."