Seoul City to Distribute 85,000 Eco-Friendly Home Boilers This Year

Expansion of Support Targets, 9 Billion Won Invested This Year

[Asia Economy Reporter Kiho Sung] The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced on the 10th that it will begin providing subsidies for the replacement of eco-friendly boilers for households starting tomorrow in 2023. The scale of this distribution is 85,000 units, with a total support amount of 9 billion KRW.

Last year, Seoul supported about 80,000 eco-friendly boilers, and including approximately 140,000 boilers installed without subsidies such as new installations in newly constructed buildings, about 220,000 eco-friendly boilers have been distributed.

This year’s subsidy amount remains the same as last year: 100,000 KRW for general households and 600,000 KRW for low-income households. Subsidies can be applied for when replacing household boilers installed before the mandatory eco-friendly boiler installation date (April 3, 2020) with eco-friendly boilers, and replacements involving switching from central heating to individual heating in apartment complexes are also eligible.

The city plans to prioritize support for low-income households, private childcare centers, private senior centers, and other vulnerable groups replacing household boilers. Selection will be made on a first-come, first-served basis during the application period, but at the closing time for each district, priority will be given among applicants. The priority order is ▲ vulnerable groups (recipients of public assistance, near-poverty groups, etc.) ▲ private social welfare facilities such as private childcare centers and private senior centers ▲ household boilers (priority support for replacement of old boilers).

Eco-friendly boilers emit only one-eighth the amount of nitrogen oxides (NOx) compared to general old boilers, contributing to fine dust reduction, and have 12% higher thermal efficiency. Households spending about 1 million KRW annually on city gas can save approximately 130,000 KRW.

Since 2015, Seoul has distributed about 710,000 eco-friendly boilers, aiming to replace 3.79 million old boilers by 2030. This has resulted in reductions of 1,421 tons of nitrogen oxides (NOx) and 135,000 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2). Additionally, it saved 56.44 million cubic meters of city gas, enough for about 94,000 households to use for one year.

Subsidy applications can be submitted by the purchaser or their agent (supplier) by visiting the district office in person, sending documents by mail, or applying online through the ‘Eco-friendly Boiler Subsidy Application System.’

Under the core policy of ‘Walking Together with the Vulnerable,’ the city continues to support energy-vulnerable groups by prioritizing subsidies for low-income households. It also plans to continue projects linked with companies and the Seoul Social Welfare Council to enable vulnerable groups to replace boilers without any personal financial burden.

Meanwhile, Seoul plans to intensively distribute household eco-friendly boilers during the ‘Fine Dust Seasonal Management Period’ (until March this year), which is implemented to reduce fine dust in winter.

Kim Jaewoong, Director of the Green Energy Division of Seoul City, said, “Replacing with eco-friendly boilers not only saves city gas costs but also effectively reduces fine dust. With the relaxed eligibility requirements, we hope many citizens will switch to eco-friendly boilers to save heating costs in this high-inflation era and protect their health.”