Gumi City to Greatly Expand Citizen-Centered Welfare Policies in 2025

Improving Quality of Life for Citizens and Providing Tangible Welfare Services

On the 20th, Gumi City in Gyeongbuk announced that it will promote various policies to improve the quality of life for its citizens and provide welfare services that can be tangibly experienced by 2025.

The main contents of the policies include strengthening the care safety net, expanding welfare infrastructure, increasing senior job opportunities, supporting the self-reliance of vulnerable groups, and enhancing the treatment of national veterans. Let’s take a look at the key policy details.

Senior job project (School Zone Safety Keeper) promoted by Gumi City.
[Photo by Gumi City]

◆ Strengthening the Care Safety Net

Gumi City has introduced a smart check-in system targeting high-risk single-person households and completed installation in 1,900 households last year. Through this, an integrated control dispatch system is operated to respond quickly to crisis situations.

To protect elderly living alone, ICT-based emergency safety services are continuously provided, and customized services such as home visits, emotional support, and hospital accompaniment are extended to 2,700 vulnerable seniors.

In particular, this year, 66 million KRW will be invested to introduce an ‘Emergency Care Service’ that supports any citizen aged 19 or older to receive care in crisis situations.

◆ Expanding Welfare Infrastructure... Increasing Facilities for Seniors and Disabled

In response to increasing welfare demand, additional welfare facilities for seniors and the disabled will be established. Eight new senior centers will be installed, and the ‘Gangdong Senior Comprehensive Welfare Center (tentative name)’ will be built in the Gangdong area.

A short-term residential facility for the disabled, aimed at emergency care and short-term protection, is being promoted with a budget of 1.7 billion KRW, targeting completion in 2026 in Wonpyeong-dong.

Additionally, to improve accessibility to welfare services, 92 million KRW will be invested to build the ‘Gumi Integrated Welfare Platform’ within the first half of the year, allowing public and private welfare information to be viewed at a glance.

◆ Expanding Senior Job Opportunities and Supporting Self-Reliance of Vulnerable Groups

The budget for senior job projects will also be expanded. This year, 5,100 seniors will be supported to secure stable income, an increase of 560 people compared to the previous year.

To help the economic independence of vulnerable groups, a new self-support success grant will be established. This grant, providing up to 1.5 million KRW annually, is expected to serve as a stepping stone for citizens facing economic difficulties to recover.

Memorial ceremony for Wangsan Heowi.
Photo by Gumi City

◆ Significantly Enhancing the Treatment of National Veterans

The treatment of war veterans and national veterans will also be strengthened. Through amendments to related ordinances, from January 2025, the honorarium for Korean War veterans will increase from 250,000 KRW to 300,000 KRW per month, and the honorarium for Vietnam War veterans will rise from 210,000 KRW to 280,000 KRW per month. Welfare allowances for spouses of deceased veterans will also be raised from 50,000 KRW to 70,000 KRW per month.

Meanwhile, to honor the spirit of patriot Wangsan Heo Wi, 800 million KRW will be invested to build the Gyeonginsa (shrine) pavilion and hold the Wangsan Cultural Festival, continuing memorial events with citizens.

Kim Jang-ho, Mayor of Gumi City, emphasized, “We will listen to the voice of each citizen and create a welfare city Gumi through communication and empathy. In 2025, we will realize changes and innovations that citizens can directly experience.”