They Said They Would Improve the Fundraising Method... Yet the Red Cross Giro Slip Arrived as Usual

Confusion Among Citizens Due to Tax Notice-Like Format
Must Call Call Center Directly to Express Refusal
Korean Red Cross "Payment History to Be Reflected from Next Year"

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo Byung-don] “It looks exactly like a tax bill, so I get confused every time.”

The Red Cross membership fee giro slip, which could be seen without fail every year-end and New Year, has arrived again this year. Although the Korean Red Cross expressed its intention to improve the fundraising method amid various controversies, nothing has changed.

The Korean Red Cross designated the two months from December to January as the 'intensive fundraising period' and sent giro slips to each household. A giro slip indicating an amount of 10,000 KRW for individuals and 30,000 KRW for businesses was delivered to all household heads aged 25 to 75. The problem is that many people may mistake it for a mandatory payment because it resembles a regular tax bill.

The slip includes the address, household head's name, and payment period, just like a general utility bill. The Korean Red Cross conducts this fundraising activity according to the Korean Red Cross Organization Act, and it has been confirmed that the Red Cross obtains personal information such as household head names and addresses from local governments.

Because of this, there have been ongoing issues such as cases where people mistakenly pay the Red Cross membership fee giro slip thinking it is a tax bill. Among the Red Cross societies in 192 countries worldwide, South Korea is the only country that sends giro slips for fundraising.

Moreover, the controversy has intensified as giro slips are sent even to low-income recipients, including basic livelihood security recipients. The Red Cross sends them in bulk by receiving two pieces of personal information: 'household head name' and 'address,' but it cannot receive sensitive information such as recipient status. In fact, the giro slip contains a phrase stating, “Basic livelihood security recipients and persons with disabilities can also receive giro slips.”

Additionally, several issues have been pointed out, such as indiscriminate sending to those not registered with the Korean Red Cross, the use of the term ‘membership fee,’ and sending notices to households, which other donation organizations do not do.

Although the Korean Red Cross has decided to gradually abolish the giro slip fundraising method amid various controversies, indiscriminate sending is still ongoing. At the National Assembly audit held in October 2019, former Korean Red Cross President Park Kyung-seo stated his intention to eliminate the giro slip fundraising method within 'three years,' but even after three years, the fundraising method remains unchanged. There is only one way to refuse the Korean Red Cross giro slip: directly contact the Korean Red Cross call center and express your refusal.

The Korean Red Cross has a policy from 2023 to send giro slips only to those who have paid at least once in the past five years. However, in some areas, giro slips are still being sent to those without payment history. A Korean Red Cross official explained, “We will gradually reduce the number of recipients and completely stop fundraising through giro slips starting in 2027,” adding, “We are preparing various methods such as digital fundraising.”