[Report] Heating Cost Support Increasing... Ssokbangchon Residents Say "Voucher? This Is the First Time We've Heard"

Government Energy Support Policies Unclaimed Due to Lack of Awareness
Eligible Recipients Say "First Time Hearing About Energy Voucher"
Some Ask Reporters "Am I Also Eligible?"
Experts Cite "Limitations of Welfare System Requiring Application"

On the 2nd, in the area of Yeongdeungpo-dong slum in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul. Used and discarded briquettes are broken. Photo by Seungseop Song tmdtjq8506@

[Asia Economy Sejong=Reporters Song Seung-seop, Gong Byung-seon, Hwang Seo-yul] Donuijeong gosiwon village, located a one-minute walk from Exit 3 of Jongno 3-ga Station in Seoul. Hong Seong-hwan (71), who lives here, wears a thick padded jumper even indoors to endure the winter cold wave. Although there is city gas, he worries about the additional costs if heating bills become excessive. Hong, a basic livelihood security recipient, was confirmed by Asia Economy to be eligible for the energy voucher support, but he said, "I've never heard of it before," and added, "I should visit the community center."

Kim Won-seok (71, pseudonym), living in Dongja-dong gosiwon village in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, said, "I don't use a gas boiler, so I probably don't qualify for the energy voucher," and added, "I've gotten used to washing with cold water in a cold room during winter." However, the energy voucher can be used not only for city gas but also for discounts on electricity and district heating, and with the National Happiness Card, kerosene, LPG, and coal briquettes can be purchased. Due to a lack of proper information about the policy, he effectively did not apply for the government's energy support program.

The Donui-dong shantytown in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Plumbing, boiler facilities, and electrical wiring are intricately tangled. Photo by Hwang Seoyul chestnut@

On the 2nd, Asia Economy visited three gosiwon village areas in Seoul (Donuijeong, Yeongdeungpo-dong, Dongja-dong) and found that many vulnerable groups who could receive energy support were excluded from benefits due to lack of awareness. President Yoon Suk-yeol instructed, "Make sure no one misses support due to ignorance," but on the ground, a blind spot in support was formed due to insufficient promotion and indifference from local governments in charge.

Vulnerable Groups Eligible but Missing Benefits Due to Lack of Awareness

On the same day, Lee Soon-yeon (45), met in Yeongdeungpo-dong gosiwon village, said, "I've heard of the energy voucher system for the first time." She is registered as a disabled person under the Disability Welfare Act due to injuries to her nose and arm and receives livelihood benefits, so she is eligible for support, but she confessed, "I didn't know such a thing existed." Lee said, "Heating bills were really high this winter," and lamented, "I bought oil and managed with about 40,000 won, but this time it cost 90,000 won because it was too cold."

At the site, gosiwon village residents heard about the energy voucher for the first time from reporters and said, "I should check it out." Some residents showed their ID cards and asked, "What is the energy voucher? Am I eligible for support too?" Lee also asked the reporter, "Should I go to the community center?" and requested, "Please tell me what I need to ask for there." Most of them were eligible for support but were not receiving any benefits at all.

According to data received by Shin Young-dae, a member of the National Assembly's Industry, Trade, Energy, Small and Medium Business Committee from the Ministry of Health and Welfare, 412,139 vulnerable households did not receive gas bill discounts last year despite being eligible. Additionally, 132,200 vulnerable households missed out on energy voucher benefits. In 2020, 47,180 households and in 2021, 55,323 households missed the benefits.

The reason vulnerable groups are unaware of the government's energy support system is due to insufficient promotion. While the president and central government emphasize promoting the energy voucher, local governments in charge sometimes do not provide proper guidance, citing that it is not their responsibility. The Yongsan District Office responded to criticism that "many people do not know about the energy voucher" by saying, "(The voucher) is managed comprehensively by the Korea Energy Agency, and text notifications are also sent by the agency," and added, "The confirmation survey for applicants is sent down to the community centers, so the on-site visits are probably done by the community centers."

There was also an explanation that some vulnerable groups deliberately do not receive the energy voucher. The Yeongdeungpo District Office said, "A bulk notification text was sent in December last year," and added, "Among gosiwon residents, some do not have oil, gas, or boilers, so they do not apply and later receive cash refunds for unused amounts." While gosiwon residents say, "We want to receive the energy voucher but don't know much about it," the district office in charge explained, "Everyone knows about it but chooses not to receive it."

Limitations of Welfare Systems Requiring Application... "Heating Costs Should Be Included in Housing Benefits"

A one-room village in Dongja-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul. Several rooms are divided inside the building. Photo by Byeongseon Gong mydillon@

Due to the nature of gosiwon villages, where rooms are subdivided, it is difficult to receive support. In some gosiwon villages, landlords operate a shared gas boiler and bill residents individually. Since the landlord who receives the bill is not classified as vulnerable, the increased heating costs are fully borne by the gosiwon residents. In facilities where only monthly rent is paid without utility charges, landlords do not properly operate heating facilities, exposing residents to cold waves even in winter.

Experts pointed out the need for policies that can practically help more vulnerable groups. Pastor Woo Yeon-sik of Dream City, which provides free shelters for gosiwon residents, said, "Among the lowest vulnerable groups like gosiwon residents, some do not even qualify for vouchers," and argued, "Filling administrative gaps is not easy, but that is the role of the state."

There was also criticism of the limitations of welfare systems based on 'application principle.' Support for vulnerable groups should be seamless through systems, but it means that support is provided only if the welfare recipients are well informed and apply. Professor Jung Soon-dol of Ewha Womans University’s Department of Social Welfare said, "It seems that temporary relief was announced because the situation is serious," and pointed out, "Not all low-income people automatically qualify, so these problems arise."

Professor Jung Jae-hoon of Seoul Women’s University’s Department of Social Welfare criticized, "The current system is fragmented, causing these problems," and said, "Heating costs have skyrocketed, so new recipients should be supported, but how can applications be encouraged when there are blind spots even among current recipients?" He advised, "If heating costs are included in housing benefits and emergency welfare support systems, recipients can automatically receive support."