Gyeonggi-do Invests 1.6 Trillion Won in Disability Independence Support... Largest Ever

Gyeonggi Province is investing a record-breaking 1.5977 trillion KRW this year in the budget for the independence of persons with disabilities, implementing 43 projects across three major areas: jobs and income, housing, and support for life before and after independence.

First, in the area of jobs and income, Gyeonggi Province will provide the nation’s largest number of public jobs, totaling 4,944 positions, for administrative agencies and welfare institutions to assist with office, administrative, and service tasks. Additionally, 775 jobs will be created to develop vocational skills and promote employment for persons with severe disabilities.

Each of the 1,592 trainees at vocational rehabilitation facilities for persons with disabilities will receive a monthly opportunity allowance of 160,000 KRW, and the support targets for opportunity income and the Nurim Account will be expanded. The Nurim Account is a program where severely disabled youth who save 100,000 KRW per month receive an additional 100,000 KRW from the province and city/county.

Poster for Gyeonggi-do's Support Policy for Independent Living of Persons with Disabilities

In the housing sector, support for securing independent living spaces will promote settlement in the local community. A total of 180 units of experience homes and independent living houses will be operated, and settlement funds necessary for the early stages of independence will be provided.

In the area of support for life before and after independence, services such as independence needs surveys, independent support services for persons with developmental disabilities, and activity support benefits will be provided. The independence needs survey targeting 1,000 persons with severe disabilities living at home will be conducted for the first time among metropolitan local governments by categorizing into urban, urban-rural complex, and rural types.

Kim Hana, Director of Welfare at Gyeonggi Province, stated, "Despite difficult financial conditions, we have allocated the largest-ever budget for persons with disabilities. We will carefully ensure that the related budget is efficiently distributed so that more persons with disabilities receive balanced benefits, and we will implement customized support policies for independent living that respond to social, economic, and cultural changes."