Gyeongbuk Province to Provide 100,000 Basic Livelihood Security Households with 100,000 KRW Heating Allowance

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Koo Dae-sun] Gyeongbuk Province announced on the 27th that it will urgently provide 14.5 billion KRW in support under the special directive of Governor Lee Cheol-woo to alleviate the burden on vulnerable groups suffering from the soaring heating costs this winter.

The support targets 105,000 households receiving basic livelihood security benefits (living, medical, housing, education) such as the elderly and disabled, as well as 5,000 cold wave shelters in the province. Basic livelihood security households will receive 100,000 KRW per household, and cold wave shelters will receive 800,000 KRW for heating costs.

A Gyeongbuk Province official stated, “The heating cost support will be shared equally between Gyeongbuk Province and the city/county governments, 50% each. Around February 1st, the province will distribute 14.5 billion KRW to 23 basic local governments, which will select recipients and prepare the budget. By around February 20th at the latest, 100,000 KRW will be paid into the accounts of the beneficiaries.”

Due to the recent cold wave with temperatures below minus 17 degrees Celsius, heating demand has surged, and heating costs have increased (city gas by 36.2%, district heating by 34%), exacerbating difficulties for vulnerable groups. This measure is to provide emergency support for low-income vulnerable groups.

According to the temporary heating cost support plan announced by the Presidential Office on the 26th, the energy voucher for low-income groups such as basic livelihood recipients will be doubled from 154,000 KRW to 307,000 KRW per person, and gas bill discounts will also be doubled from 9,000-36,000 KRW per month to 18,000-72,000 KRW.

Gyeongbuk Provincial Government Office

Gyeongbuk Province judged that government support measures alone are insufficient to resolve the difficulties of low-income groups, so in addition to energy vouchers and gas bill discounts, it will provide an additional emergency heating cost of 100,000 KRW per household and 800,000 KRW for cold wave shelter heating costs.

Furthermore, social welfare facilities will be allowed to use an additional 300,000 to 1,000,000 KRW per month for heating costs from their operating expenses depending on the facility size, easing the difficulties faced by welfare facilities due to the sharp rise in heating costs.

Governor Lee Cheol-woo of Gyeongbuk Province said, “Due to this year’s record-breaking cold wave, low-income groups are struggling to get through the winter. Providing emergency heating cost support is a necessary measure to help residents spend a warm winter. We will continue to closely monitor and implement welfare policies that can timely address and embrace the suffering of vulnerable groups.”