Seoul City Expands Veterans Allowance Beneficiaries by 13,000... 15.8 Billion KRW Increase

Remove Exclusion Rule: 100,000 KRW 'Veteran Honor Allowance' for All 6.25 and Vietnam War Veterans
Seoul Residents Who Are Independence Activists Receive 1,000,000 KRW 'Patriotic Honor Allowance,' Increased Fivefold

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] On the 25th, Seoul City announced that it will expand and reorganize the veterans' allowances, including the War Veteran Honor Allowance, Veterans' Courtesy Allowance, and Veterans' Honor Allowance this year to strengthen the respect for and support the livelihood stability of veterans who have devoted and sacrificed for the country.

According to Seoul City, the regulation that excluded recipients of veterans' benefits paid by the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs from receiving the War Veteran Honor Allowance and Veterans' Courtesy Allowance has been removed, increasing the number of beneficiaries by 13,000 so that all eligible veterans can receive the allowances. Seoul City will invest 70.5 billion won, which is 15.8 billion won more than last year.

The "Veterans' Honor Allowance," paid to independence activists residing in Seoul, will be increased fivefold from 200,000 won to 1,000,000 won per month to strengthen the respect for independence patriots. Currently, there are three surviving independence patriots in Seoul.

Previously, war veterans who were also disabled veterans or victims of Agent Orange were excluded from the War Veteran Honor Allowance recipients because they received veterans' benefits from the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs. From this year, this exclusion regulation has been removed, expanding the War Veteran Honor Allowance to all war veterans, and it is expected to resolve the issue of reverse discrimination among war veterans that had been raised.

Both the War Veteran Honor Allowance and Veterans' Courtesy Allowance are paid automatically on the 25th of each month in the amount of 100,000 won to the accounts registered with the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs without a separate application process. If omitted, one can apply at the local community service center of their residence. Currently, there are a total of three surviving patriots residing in Seoul, with an average age of 95, making them elderly. Considering the limited physical time to honor them and the fairness with support for independence patriots in other cities and provinces, Seoul City has significantly increased the Veterans' Honor Allowance from this year.

In addition, Seoul City's "Living Assistance Allowance" and "Independence Patriots Living Support Allowance" will be paid as before. These allowances are provided to low-income veterans and their families to support their livelihood stability.

Meanwhile, besides veterans' allowances, Seoul City is discovering and supporting specialized projects for 11 veterans' organizations, including the Seoul Branch of the Liberation Association, expanding opportunities for social contribution by these organizations. It also supports operating expenses to promote stable management of veterans' organizations and the activation of commemorative projects.

Ha Young-tae, Director of the Welfare Policy Division, said, "The expansion and reorganization of veterans' allowances is a project to strengthen proper respect and support livelihood stability for those who sacrificed and devoted themselves to the country," adding, "Seoul City will establish a comprehensive support system for social reintegration of veterans, including young wounded soldiers, who are in the blind spots of veterans' support, and create a Seoul where sacrifices for the country become a real source of pride in life."