Suspected Misuse of Munhwanuri Card at a Nursing Hospital in Buyeo Area

Purchase of Stationery and Other Items Over Time on a Specific Day

Cultural Nuri Card / Screenshot

There have been allegations of improper use of Munhwanuri Cards belonging to residents at a nursing hospital in Buyeo, Chungnam.

The Munhwanuri Card is a government-issued card that provides 130,000 KRW per person annually to basic livelihood recipients and low-income groups, aiming to improve quality of life and reduce cultural disparities. The card can be used for cultural activities, domestic travel, and sports.

According to an Asia Economy investigation on the 23rd, 11 Munhwanuri Card recipients residing at a nursing hospital in Buyeo each spent 130,000 KRW at a stationery store, a card-affiliated merchant, between August 12 and 18.

However, suspicions have arisen that a facility staff member may have improperly used the cards, as the residents, all on the same day and at intervals, made identical purchases of stationery and related items.

There are also claims that the facility used the residents' Munhwanuri Cards to purchase office supplies and other items needed for facility operations.

It is reported that there are dozens of Munhwanuri Card recipients at this nursing hospital.

A former staff member who worked at the facility said, "We applied for cards on behalf of elderly residents who have mobility issues and cognitive decline, and used them to buy office supplies at the stationery store. While some of the elderly residents are aware of the Munhwanuri Card, most do not know about it."

A stationery store representative stated, "The card recipients themselves have difficulty moving, so a facility staff member came to make the purchases."

The head of the nursing hospital said, "A social worker is in charge of this task, so I do not know the details. I will look into it."

Although Munhwanuri Card recipients are supposed to apply for the card in person at their local community center, facility residents such as those in nursing hospitals can have the facility head apply on their behalf after reporting as their guardian. The card cannot be transferred or lent to others and must be used by the recipient themselves.