Goheung County to Lower Threshold for Livelihood Benefits and Expand Support This Year

Expansion of Earned Income Deductions for the Elderly
Addressing Welfare Blind Spots for Vulnerable Groups

Goheung County in Jeollanam-do (Governor Gong Youngmin) announced on the 3rd that it will expand the number of welfare recipients and address welfare blind spots by raising the 2025 standard median income and easing the eligibility criteria for the Basic Livelihood Security System.

As the standard median income for a four-person household in 2025 will increase by 6.42% compared to the previous year, the amount of livelihood benefit support will rise from 1,833,572 KRW to 1,951,287 KRW. As a result, recipients will be able to receive up to an additional 117,000 KRW per month in livelihood benefits.

A view of the Goheung County Office building.

The main policy improvements for 2025 include: ▲ expanding the application of the automobile income conversion rate (4.17%) ▲ easing the means test for livelihood benefit recipients ▲ and introducing additional deductions for earned income for the elderly.

For automobile assets, the current application of the general property conversion rate (4.17%) only applies to vehicles with engine displacement of 1,600cc or less or a vehicle value under 2 million KRW. Moving forward, this will be expanded to vehicles with engine displacement of 2,000cc or less or a vehicle value under 5 million KRW, minimizing disqualification from benefits due to automobile ownership.

Additionally, the means test for livelihood benefits, which previously excluded those with annual income exceeding 100 million KRW or general property exceeding 900 million KRW, will be expanded to 130 million KRW in annual income or 1.2 billion KRW in general property.

Furthermore, to encourage economic activity among the elderly, the age for additional earned and business income deductions will be lowered from 75 years and older to 65 years and older. These changes are expected to significantly help address the welfare blind spots that have previously left some people without benefits.

The county plans to actively promote the revised system so that low-income and vulnerable groups who were previously excluded from support or in need of welfare benefits can now receive assistance. In addition, workshops for welfare officers in towns and villages will be held to improve understanding of the policy changes, and customized welfare consultations will be provided.

Kang Choonja, Director of the Resident Welfare Division, said, "The easing of the livelihood benefit criteria in 2025 will provide practical help for stabilizing the lives of vulnerable groups who have not been able to receive welfare benefits so far. With the relaxed criteria for vehicle owners and elderly households, we expect that those who have not received support will now benefit and see an improvement in their quality of life."