Seoul City Provides Emergency Heating Cost Support of 34.6 Billion KRW to Low-Income and Vulnerable Groups

[Asia Economy Reporter Kiho Sung] The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced on the 26th that it will provide additional heating cost support to welfare facilities mainly used by vulnerable groups such as low-income households, the elderly, children, disabled persons, homeless people, and those with mental illnesses.

This support was prepared to ensure sufficient heating for vulnerable groups amid a surge in heating usage caused by the unprecedented cold wave reaching minus 17 degrees Celsius in Seoul, along with increases in city gas and heat charges due to the sharp rise in LNG import prices.

First, low-income households will receive an additional 100,000 KRW heating allowance for approximately 300,000 basic livelihood security households across Seoul, regardless of age or other conditions, totaling 30 billion KRW in support. This is provided separately from the government’s energy voucher support and will be paid in cash to eligible recipients without a separate application.

Additionally, the Seoul city government will prioritize paying the increased heating costs from the existing budget to all supported welfare facilities to ensure sufficient heating operation without financial burden. However, 937 welfare facilities that are large in scale or unable to cover costs within the existing budget will receive a special heating fund of 3.5 billion KRW.

Special heating funds will also be provided through special grants to senior centers used by health-vulnerable elderly people. A total of 1.1 billion KRW in special grants will be provided over five months to 1,458 locations.

Following today’s announcement of the measures, tomorrow Mayor Oh Se-hoon will hold a meeting with the heads of the 25 autonomous districts to discuss cold wave countermeasures. He plans to communicate requests for cooperation regarding Seoul’s support measures and gather on-site difficulties to prepare additional support plans.

Mayor Oh Se-hoon stated, "It is fortunate that government-level energy voucher support and gas bill discount measures have been introduced amid the unprecedented severe cold wave worsening the difficulties of vulnerable groups. In addition, at the Seoul city level, we will urgently prioritize emergency support for heating costs of low-income households, homeless shelters, and welfare facilities such as senior centers by utilizing contingency funds and special grants. In the mid to long term, we will also do our best to prepare fundamental improvement measures to reduce heating costs themselves, such as installing insulation materials, window construction, and replacing boilers with eco-friendly energy boilers."