Increase in Living Support Fund for Residents of Seohae 5 Islands... 150,000 KRW Monthly for Those Living Over 10 Years

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyesook] The living support allowance paid monthly to residents of the Seohae 5 Islands will be increased to a maximum of 150,000 KRW.

Incheon City announced on the 17th that starting this year, the residential living support allowance for the Seohae 5 Islands will be raised from 120,000 KRW to 150,000 KRW for residents who have lived there for more than 10 years, and from 60,000 KRW to 80,000 KRW for those who have lived there for less than 10 years.

Since the North Korean shelling of Yeonpyeong Island in 2010, the government enacted the "Seohae 5 Islands Support Special Act" to stabilize the lives of residents of the Seohae 5 Islands. The act provides living support allowances to residents who have been registered for more than six months and have lived there for at least 15 days per month.

Earlier, Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok visited Yeonpyeong Island in October last year to inspect the security situation related to the North Korean shelling and pledged to work hard to increase the residential living support allowance for residents of the Seohae 5 Islands.

An official from Incheon City stated, "As a result of our full efforts to increase the support allowance by meeting with members of the National Assembly, the Ministry of Strategy and Finance, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, and other central government ministers, the living support allowance for the Seohae 5 Islands has been increased by 30% this year," adding, "We will continue to do our best to ensure the stability of residents' lives and improve welfare in the Seohae 5 Islands."