Incheon Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok is taking a commemorative photo after holding a meeting with heads of veterans' organizations from the Incheon branch in the city hall conference room on the 2nd. [Photo by Incheon City]
[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyesook] Incheon City will promote various veterans' policies this year, including the construction of an integrated veterans' center and the increase of veterans' allowances.
The city announced on the 2nd that it plans to build the "Incheon Integrated Veterans Welfare Center (tentative name)" by 2025, gathering veterans' organizations scattered across various locations into one place.
The integrated center, whose site will be decided in the first half of this year, will have one basement floor, eight above-ground floors, and a total floor area of 3,600㎡, equipped with offices, meeting rooms, and an auditorium.
Additionally, to cover the costs necessary for building maintenance and management, revenue-generating facilities will be introduced, and fitness rooms and welfare spaces for veterans' organization members will be arranged.
The city plans to complete feasibility studies and basic plan establishment services by mid-year, undergo local financial investment reviews, start construction next year, and complete the project by 2025.
Currently, Incheon has a veterans' center in Ganseok-dong, Namdong-gu, but since it was completed 34 years ago, maintenance costs have increased due to aging facilities, and the space is limited. Among the 13 veterans' organizations, 10 except for 3 are scattered across public and rental buildings.
Starting this month, veterans' allowances for national merit recipients will also be increased.
The honorary allowance for veterans aged 65 to 84 will rise from 80,000 KRW to 100,000 KRW per month, the allowance for bereaved families of war casualties and independence patriots will increase from 50,000 KRW to 70,000 KRW per month, and the veterans' courtesy allowance will go up from 30,000 KRW to 50,000 KRW per month.
Since June last year, the city has been promoting the "Happiness Sharing Participation Activation Project" in cooperation with the global relief organization Good Neighbors to support national veterans.
This project aims to enhance pride in veterans' promotion through sponsorships from companies and organizations and to spread a voluntary donation culture. It provides scholarships and daily necessities to families of national veterans facing financial difficulties.
On the 2nd, Incheon Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok said at a meeting with veterans' organization leaders, "We will prepare more substantial and detailed policies for those who have devoted themselves to the nation and promote courtesy policies befitting the dignity of a city that honors national defense and veterans."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
