Gyeonggi Province will become the first in the nation to provide opportunity income to artists and people with disabilities in the province as early as July.
Opportunity income is a representative policy of Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Dong-yeon, designed to compensate for income over a certain period to those who create value in our society but do not receive fair rewards, thereby providing them with more opportunities.
On the 28th, Gyeonggi Province announced that the Gyeonggi Provincial Council deliberated and approved the enactment of the 'Gyeonggi Province Artist Opportunity Income Payment Ordinance' and the 'Gyeonggi Province Disabled Opportunity Income Payment Ordinance' at the plenary session.
Accordingly, Gyeonggi Province will conduct applicant recruitment and selection procedures and begin paying opportunity income to artists and people with disabilities as early as July.
Artist opportunity income will be paid twice annually at 1.5 million KRW per year to artists residing in the province who hold a valid certificate of artistic activity and whose personal income is at or below 120% of the median income.
This year, Gyeonggi Province will provide artist opportunity income to approximately 9,000 people across 27 cities and counties. The program will first be implemented in 10 cities and counties, including Paju City, where preparations are complete.
For detailed information such as application locations, please check the project announcement posted on the Gyeonggi Provincial Government website on the 30th of this month.
Gyeonggi Province will verify the recognized income of applicants and begin the first payment (750,000 KRW per person) sequentially from late July. Other cities and counties (excluding Suwon, Yongin, Goyang, and Seongnam) will start accepting applications as preliminary procedures are completed and proceed with the first payment between July and August by city or county. The second payment (750,000 KRW per person) will be made between October and December.
The disabled opportunity income program will select 2,000 people with severe disabilities in the province and provide 50,000 KRW per month for six months, totaling 300,000 KRW.
Recipients with severe disabilities must wear a smartwatch and engage in physical activity at least twice a week for one hour or more, taking care of their own health through movement. This is the first recognition of value-creating activities by people with disabilities, as any reduction in social costs (medical expenses, care costs) resulting from improved physical condition is considered value creation.
In May, Gyeonggi Province established the basic plan for the 'Disabled Opportunity Income' and selected the Gyeonggi Disabled Welfare Comprehensive Support Center (Nulim Center) as the project operating agency. The center will not only provide opportunity income (support funds) but also assist people with disabilities in setting self-directed exercise goals and activities.
The disabled opportunity income program will be publicly recruited for 10 days from July 5 to 14 through Gyeonggi Minwon24. Gyeonggi Province will finalize the selection of support recipients in July after verifying qualifications such as income. Smartwatches will be distributed at the end of July, and exercise goals will be established, followed by the first opportunity income payment.
To encourage more participation and expand the program, Gyeonggi Province submitted a request for social security system change on May 19 to the Ministry of Health and Welfare, expanding the support criteria beyond the Ministry’s original notification (50% of median income and ages 18?64) to 120% of median income and ages 13?64. Reflecting the consultation results, the province plans to open recruitment from July 5 with expanded eligibility.
A Gyeonggi Province official stated, "Both artist opportunity income and disabled opportunity income aim to activate social value-creating activities. We will prepare thoroughly and implement the program so that opportunity income can spread to more people."
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