Gyeonggi-do Receives 'Minister of Health and Welfare Commendation' for Efforts in Identifying Welfare Blind Spots

Gyeonggi Provincial Government

Gyeonggi Province received a commendation from the Ministry of Health and Welfare for its efforts in identifying welfare blind spots.

On the 27th, Gyeonggi Province announced that it was selected as the only outstanding institution among metropolitan local governments in the Ministry of Health and Welfare’s “2023 Welfare Blind Spot Discovery” and received a commendation from the Minister of Health and Welfare.

Gyeonggi Province operates the “Gyeonggi Province Emergency Welfare Crisis Counseling Hotline (Call Center),” the first welfare-dedicated counseling window among metropolitan local governments nationwide, where people can consult or report when they become aware of neighbors in need or facing difficulties.

Additionally, this year, using big data such as health insurance premium arrears, financial delinquencies, and arrears in electricity or communication fees among elderly households, the province supported 19,051 residents.

Among the identified residents in crisis, Gyeonggi Province provided public benefits to about 1,400 people, including those receiving basic living security, second-lowest income support, and emergency welfare. For approximately 17,600 people who were not eligible for public support but were in difficult situations, the province supported private resources such as the Community Chest of Korea and actively connected them with services from other organizations like the Credit Recovery Committee to help resolve their crisis situations.

Gyeonggi Province will continue planned discovery of welfare blind spot households until January next year.

In particular, considering that winter is a time when difficulties increase for vulnerable groups due to seasonal unemployment caused by cold waves and increased heating costs, the province plans to focus on discovering and supporting 3,437 vulnerable winter households with crisis information such as electricity, water, or gas disconnections, arrears in electricity or communication fees, and financial delinquencies among monthly rent vulnerable households.

The Gyeonggi Province Emergency Welfare Hotline was established in August last year under the directive of Governor Kim Dong-yeon, and as of December 26 this year, 3,992 people requested help, with 3,522 (88%) receiving assistance. Support assessments are currently underway for 470 people.

Kim Neung-sik, Director of the Gyeonggi Province Welfare Bureau, said, “I believe that we were able to achieve good results because we did our best to ensure that all residents have opportunities and can be happy, which is the philosophy of the 8th elected administration.” He added, “Please continue to contact the Emergency Welfare Hotline when you see neighbors in need, and also become a beacon of hope by helping those in difficult situations as a Hope Embracer.”