[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il]
Guro-gu “No Blind Spots” Rapid Promotion of Additional Heating Cost Support
Approximately 390 million KRW from district budget invested, additional support measures prepared at the district level
Childcare center heating cost support doubled for 2 months
Guro-gu (Mayor Moon Heon-il) announced that it has prepared additional heating cost support measures to alleviate the economic burden on residents struggling due to the recent continuous cold wave and soaring heating costs.
This support is an additional measure at the district level following the previously announced support from the government and Seoul City, with the district investing approximately 390 million KRW for additional heating cost support.
In particular, the district focused on supporting vulnerable groups and welfare facilities that have not received existing heating cost support, aiming to eliminate welfare blind spots.
First, in addition to Seoul City's heating cost support of 100,000 KRW per basic livelihood security household for vulnerable groups, the district will fully support 2,477 near-poverty households with 100,000 KRW each from the district budget.
Also, the heating cost support amount for 266 childcare centers will be doubled for 2 months compared to the existing amount.
For 185 senior citizen centers frequently used by the elderly, an additional maximum of 148,000 KRW per facility will be provided on top of the existing maximum heating cost support of 370,000 KRW.
Heating support for care facilities will also be strengthened. For 16 all-day care centers, 200,000 KRW per month for 2 months will be provided, and for 24 local children's centers, an additional 300,000 KRW per month for 2 months will be supported.
Moon Heon-il, Mayor of Guro-gu, said, “This additional support was prepared to alleviate the difficulties of residents whose economic burden has increased due to the recent continuous cold wave and soaring heating costs,” and added, “We will strive to ensure that support is provided thoroughly where it is most needed.”
Seongbuk-gu Urgently Provides 1.8 Billion KRW Special Heating Cost Support to Low-Income, Elderly, and Small Business Owners
Separate support from government and Seoul City, independent support by Seongbuk-gu
Flat-rate heating cost support of 100,000 KRW per month for 3 months to about 100 private senior centers... Additional 150,000 to 200,000 KRW support to about 200 national, public, and private childcare centers
Special support of 100,000 KRW to about 15,000 small business owners with annual sales under 200 million KRW
About 3,000 low-income vulnerable households excluded from Seoul City support also receive flat-rate 100,000 KRW per household
Seongbuk-gu (Mayor Lee Seung-ro) is urgently investing about 1.8 billion KRW to support private senior centers, childcare centers, small business owners, and near-poverty groups struggling due to record cold waves and soaring heating costs.
This is independent support by Seongbuk-gu, separate from the previously announced government and Seoul City support. With this measure, about 100 private senior centers, 200 childcare centers, 15,000 small business owners, and 3,000 near-poverty households across Seongbuk-gu will benefit.
The specific support details are as follows. Private senior centers used daily by the elderly will receive special heating cost support of 100,000 KRW per month for 3 months to help seniors spend a warm winter. National, public, and private childcare centers will receive heating cost support of 150,000 to 200,000 KRW to protect children's health and safety and ease parents' concerns.
Small business owners severely affected by rising energy costs will receive special support of 100,000 KRW per business. The target is small business owners with annual sales under 200 million KRW. Heating cost support will also be provided to near-poverty groups, a potential poverty class. About 3,000 households, including Seoul-type basic livelihood security recipients, near-poverty groups, and single-parent families excluded from Seoul City's heating cost support, will receive 100,000 KRW each by the 20th of this month.
Lee Seung-ro, Mayor of Seongbuk-gu, said, “Due to unprecedented cold waves and soaring heating costs, difficulties in daily life have increased, leading to the decision for independent support by Seongbuk-gu,” and added, “We will continue to monitor residents' difficulties even after this special heating cost support.”
This special heating cost support was decided by the Northeast 4 District Administrative Council (Chairman Lee Seung-ro, Mayor of Seongbuk-gu), composed of Seongbuk, Gangbuk, Nowon, and Dobong districts, to alleviate residents' difficulties caused by the cold wave and to eliminate energy welfare blind spots.
Dongdaemun-gu Provides Up to 300,000 KRW Real Estate Brokerage Fee Support to Low-Income Groups
Up to 300,000 KRW brokerage fee support for low-income groups with rental transaction amounts under 100 million KRW
Targets include basic livelihood security recipients, elderly living alone, child heads of household... Dongdaemun-gu walking with the vulnerable
Dongdaemun-gu (Mayor Lee Pil-hyung) announced that it will officially implement the ‘Low-Income Brokerage Fee Support’ project from February this year to reduce the household burden of low-income residents.
To create an “Attractive Seoul Walking with the Vulnerable,” Dongdaemun-gu will support real estate brokerage fees up to 300,000 KRW when signing rental contracts for houses under 100 million KRW.
The ‘support targets’ are those who have registered their move-in to Dongdaemun-gu after January 1 this year and include basic livelihood security recipients, elderly living alone, single-parent families, and child heads of household.
Applicants need to prepare ▲Real estate brokerage fee application form ▲Copy of housing lease contract ▲Copy of bankbook (in applicant’s name) ▲Resident registration certificate (after move-in registration) ▲Brokerage fee receipt ▲Supporting documents for eligibility (basic livelihood security recipient, single-parent family, etc.) and apply at Dongdaemun-gu Office Real Estate Information Division or the nearest community service center.
Lee Pil-hyung, Mayor of Dongdaemun-gu, said, “Although the amount is not large, I hope this ‘Real Estate Brokerage Fee Support’ will help reduce residents' housing cost burdens even a little,” and added, “Dongdaemun-gu will always stand by neighbors facing economic difficulties.”
For inquiries about this project, please contact the Real Estate Information Division of Dongdaemun-gu Office.
Gwangjin-gu Accepts Applications for Seoul-type Paid Sick Leave
Up to 14 days annually... Living wage support of 89,250 KRW per day
Enables hospitalization, outpatient treatment, and health checkups without income loss worries
Applications available at local community service centers or Gwangjin-gu Public Health Center
Gwangjin-gu (Mayor Kim Kyung-ho) operates an application desk for ‘Seoul-type Paid Sick Leave’ for daily workers and special-type workers who cannot receive treatment due to lack of paid leave.
Seoul-type Paid Sick Leave is a project that supports living expenses during periods when vulnerable workers cannot work due to injury or illness, helping them reduce livelihood burdens, recover health quickly, and return to economic activities.
The daily wage paid corresponds to this year’s Seoul living wage of 89,250 KRW, with support up to 1,249,500 KRW annually. This is 43,820 KRW more annually compared to last year.
The maximum application period is 14 days: 13 days for hospitalization (including 3 days of outpatient treatment) and 1 day for health checkups. However, hospitalization for non-treatment purposes such as cosmetic surgery, plastic surgery, or childbirth is not eligible. Recipients of National Basic Livelihood Security, Seoul-type Basic Security, and Emergency Welfare are excluded from overlapping benefits.
Applicants must be National Health Insurance regional subscribers registered as residents in Gwangjin-gu. Interested persons can consult by phone and then visit their local community service center or Gwangjin-gu Public Health Center to apply.
Kim Kyung-ho, Mayor of Gwangjin-gu, said, “We operate the paid sick leave application desk so that workers can receive treatment without worry and continue economic activities,” and added, “We will do our best to create a healthy and happy working environment.” For more details, please contact the Health Policy Division.
Eunpyeong-gu Recognized as ‘Excellent Institution’ for Social Service Agent Duty Management... The Only Seoul District
Selected as the top institution among 25 Seoul districts in evaluation by Seoul Regional Military Manpower Administration
Eunpyeong-gu (Mayor Kim Mi-kyung) announced that it was selected as an excellent institution for duty management in the ‘2022 Social Service Agent Duty Institution Survey’ conducted by the Seoul Regional Military Manpower Administration.
The Seoul Regional Military Manpower Administration evaluates overall duty management performance annually for all Seoul districts and social welfare facilities to encourage faithful service by social service agents, improve satisfaction, and prevent accidents.
Eunpyeong-gu was the only district among 25 Seoul districts to receive an institutional commendation in this survey. It received high scores across the board in managing social service agents’ attendance and duty status, conducting grievance interviews, and interest in social service agent tasks.
Kim Mi-kyung, Mayor of Eunpyeong-gu, said, “We will create an environment where social service agents can perform their military duties with pride,” and added, “We will provide wholehearted support so they can safely return to society.”
Yeongdeungpo-gu Recruits Care Volunteer Group to Provide Rest for Families of Dementia Patients
Average lifespan reaching 100 years in aging society, increasing dementia patients intensify caregiving family burdens
Operating care family volunteer group to reduce caregiving burdens for families of dementia patients
Various programs including early dementia screening to eliminate dementia blind spots
Yeongdeungpo-gu (Mayor Choi Ho-kwon) announced that it will recruit a volunteer group to care for families of dementia patients ahead of the pilot project for the family respite care system.
Korea has entered an aging society. According to the resident registration population status by Statistics Korea, the population aged 60 and over in Yeongdeungpo-gu is 90,541, an increase of 1,899 from the previous year. Among them, the estimated number of dementia patients is about 6,200, accounting for 7% of the population aged 60 and over.
The problem is that the caregiving burden on families of the elderly is also increasing. Therefore, the district plans to connect volunteers to families of dementia patients to reduce caregiving burdens and guarantee rest.
Volunteers, after completing a certain amount of training, will visit dementia patients’ homes from April, providing companionship, accompanying outings, and checking on patients on behalf of families.
The recruitment targets are 90 regular volunteers (participating at least once a month) and occasional volunteers (participating at least once a year). Anyone wishing to care for dementia patients can apply. Interested residents can download the application form from the Yeongdeungpo-gu Office website under Notices and Announcements, fill it out, and submit it in person at the nearest community service center or the Elderly and Disabled Division, or by mail, email, or fax.
Additionally, the district is implementing various projects to eliminate dementia blind spots and create a dementia-safe city without worries, including ▲visiting early dementia screening ▲cognitive health programs ▲providing wandering recognition tags and location trackers to prevent missing dementia elderly ▲providing care supplies (diapers, wet wipes, waterproof sheets, etc.) to low-income groups ▲operating memory care shelters ▲and running dementia-safe villages.
Choi Ho-kwon, Mayor of Yeongdeungpo-gu, said, “Families with dementia patients face economic and mental burdens due to 24-hour care. Therefore, we are recruiting a care family volunteer group to fill caregiving gaps and comfort dementia patients and their families,” and added, “We will create a welfare system unique to Yeongdeungpo-gu by reducing caregiving burdens and guaranteeing rest for families of dementia patients.”
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