Gyeonggi-do Provides Annual Opportunity Income of 1.5 Million KRW to 11,500 Artists

Gyeonggi Provincial Government

Gyeonggi Province will provide an annual "opportunity income" of 1.5 million KRW starting as early as July to 11,500 artists in 28 cities and counties, excluding the three areas of Seongnam, Yongin, and Goyang, following last year.

Opportunity income is a key project initiated by Governor Kim Dong-yeon of Gyeonggi Province to offer more opportunities to those who create value in our society but do not receive fair compensation.

On the 17th, Gyeonggi Province announced that on the 10th it received notification from the Ministry of Health and Welfare regarding the introduction of opportunity income for artists, confirming the completion of conditions for establishing a new social security system and a two-year extension of the conditional consultation period.

Accordingly, from the 24th of this month, Gyeonggi Province will accept applications for payment from artists residing in 28 cities and counties, excluding the three areas of Yongin, Seongnam, and Goyang.

As of January this year, the number of valid artists with proof of artistic activity residing in these 28 cities and counties is 22,701 general artists and 3,019 emerging artists, totaling 25,720. Gyeonggi Province selected 11,500 as the first recipients of opportunity income support among holders of these artistic activity certificates, including 10,200 general artists and 1,300 emerging artists. The province will verify income and exclusion criteria for these artists and begin sequential payments of opportunity income to artists as early as mid-July.

Earlier, in March last year, during consultations with the Ministry of Health and Welfare on establishing a new social security system, Gyeonggi Province agreed to conduct the project for one year. Subsequently, to relaunch the project this year, the province consulted with the Ministry of Health and Welfare to differentiate it from the artistic activity preparation fund project implemented by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and completed prior consultations with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism as recommended before finalizing the project.

The current Social Security Framework Act stipulates that when local governments establish or change social security systems, they must consult with the Ministry of Health and Welfare regarding the validity of the establishment or change, its relationship with existing systems, its impact on the social security delivery system, and operational plans.

Kim Do-hyung, Director of the Arts Policy Division of Gyeonggi Province, stated, "With the extension of the consultation period, we can stably promote the opportunity income for artists in Gyeonggi Province," adding, "We will analyze the effects to ensure the policy benefits artists and prepare plans for its expansion."

Meanwhile, last year, Gyeonggi Province paid opportunity income of 1.5 million KRW twice to artists residing in the province who had valid proof of artistic activity and whose recognized personal income was at or below 120% of the median income level.