Gumi City Implements Community-Based Welfare Policies to Reduce Alienation and Enhance Public Satisfaction

297 People Participate in 19 Self-Support Work Projects

Public Funeral Support for Unclaimed Deceased Planned This Year

Gumi City in North Gyeongsang Province is implementing a variety of customized welfare policies to support citizens facing financial difficulties through a seamless and comprehensive welfare system.

There are a total of 13,357 households and 18,437 individuals (4.5% of the total population) in Gumi who are recipients of basic livelihood support or are in the next-lowest income bracket. The city has allocated 6.14 billion KRW in tailored welfare benefits (4.85 billion for living expenses, 300 million for childbirth and funeral benefits, 480 million for medical benefits, and 510 million for self-support projects) to ensure the stability of low-income residents.

The city operates 19 self-support work project groups to provide jobs and support economic independence for low-income residents. Currently, 297 people are participating, and the city is helping them achieve independence and move beyond welfare through the experience and skills gained from these projects.

The 'Asset Building Support Project,' which helps working low-income youth accumulate savings for economic independence, is supporting about 2,131 people this year with approximately 500 million KRW. The Youth Tomorrow Savings Account project has expanded its eligibility to those earning up to 100% of the median income, allowing many low-income youth to benefit.

The city has also launched a public funeral support program for unaccompanied deceased individuals, under the slogan 'The First Step for a Beautiful Farewell.'

In October 2023, the city enacted the 'Ordinance on Public Funeral Support in Gumi City,' and from this year, it is implementing a public funeral support project for unaccompanied deceased individuals. This provides not only funeral expenses but also additional ceremonial costs in cases where there are no relatives or relatives refuse to claim the body, ensuring respect and dignity for the deceased.

On January 18, the city began supporting public funerals for unaccompanied deceased individuals at the funeral hall of Soonchunhyang University Gumi Hospital and has provided support for a total of six cases so far. Through this public funeral support, the city strives to ensure a peaceful final farewell for those who had to endure difficult times alone.

Gumi City is also working to establish a comprehensive social safety net through welfare policies closely tied to daily life.

With the full implementation of the 'Home-based Medical Benefit Pilot Project,' the city is working to improve the quality of life for medical benefit recipients by supporting their stable return home after discharge and helping them settle back into the community.

The city has signed agreements with three medical institutions (Keunsarang Nursing Hospital, Gumi Gangdong Hospital, Gangdong Nursing Hospital), five meal service providers (Oneulbanchan, Uribanchan, Donghaebanchan, Indongbanchan, Halmaebanchan), and five care service providers (Haengbok Jaega, Eunbit Jaega, Gumi Jaega, Hyogumi Jaega, Gumi Community Self-Support Center) to provide medical, care, meal, and transportation support services to nine recipients, up to a maximum of 602,530 KRW per person per month.

Additionally, the city is contributing to the improvement of citizens' health and welfare by providing diverse medical benefits totaling 4.8 billion KRW, including nursing expenses, assistive devices for the disabled, and health maintenance allowances to those in need.

Mayor Kim Jangho stated, "The self-support projects we are promoting for the independence of low-income groups are a key element for the smooth operation of our society's welfare safety net," and added, "Through the implementation of welfare projects closely linked to daily life, we will open a new era of hope in Gumi, where every citizen is carefully cared for."

The self-support work group operated by Gumi City is holding the opening ceremony of Cafe Clouden.