105 Billion KRW in Reserve Fund Allocated Before Lunar New Year
Funds to Be Used for Senior Center Meal Support and More
Jeonnam Province has allocated and will distribute a contingency fund of 10.5 billion KRW to enhance the welfare of elderly residents across the region before the Lunar New Year holiday. Photo by Jeonnam Province
Jeollanam-do plans to complete the payment of 10.5 billion KRW in livelihood support funds to low-income and vulnerable seniors before the Lunar New Year.
To ease the financial burden of vulnerable seniors during the winter, Jeollanam-do announced a livelihood stabilization plan last December and urgently allocated 10.5 billion KRW from the provincial reserve fund.
To provide balanced meals for seniors during the winter, 100,000 KRW per month will be given for three months?totaling 300,000 KRW?to 9,486 senior centers in the Jeollanam-do area. Additionally, a one-time heating allowance of 100,000 KRW per person will be provided to about 70,000 seniors aged 65 and over who are basic livelihood security recipients or belong to the near-poor class.
Previously, Jeollanam-do provided 400,000 KRW per month for heating and 52,000 KRW per month for grain to senior centers primarily used by the elderly. Through continuous proposals to the central government, the province also improved the management system so that any remaining operating funds at senior centers can be used for meal side dishes or ingredient purchases instead of being returned.
In addition, the province supports an annual budget of 10.9 billion KRW to provide free meals to low-income seniors at 138 senior dining facilities, including senior welfare centers.
Hwang Insu, president of the Goheung-gun Senior Citizens Association, expressed his gratitude, saying, "Despite difficult economic and political conditions, Jeollanam-do has consistently implemented care policies for seniors, greatly reducing their financial burden."
Kim Youngrok, Governor of Jeollanam-do, stated, "Although internal and external conditions are challenging, we will continue to do our best so that seniors can have a safe and healthy winter during the Lunar New Year."
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