"Claimed Hardship"... Woman in Her 70s Collected 54 Million Won in Welfare While Receiving Rent

Failure to Report Changes in Income and Assets
Illegally Received 54.22 Million Won in Benefits Over 2 Years and 10 Months

A woman in her 70s was given a suspended prison sentence after failing to properly report changes in her income and assets as a recipient of basic livelihood benefits, and unlawfully receiving tens of millions of won in welfare payments.

According to Yonhap News on June 16, the Gwangju District Court Criminal Division 7 (Presiding Judge Kim Soyeon) sentenced Ms. A, a woman in her 70s indicted for violating the National Basic Living Security Act, to eight months in prison with a two-year suspension. The court also ordered Ms. A to undergo probation and complete 160 hours of community service.

Gwangju District Court building. Photo by Yonhap News

Ms. A was brought to trial on charges of unlawfully receiving a total of 54.22 million won in basic livelihood benefits from January 2021 to November 2023. She had been receiving basic livelihood, housing, and medical benefits from Seo-gu, Gwangju since 2015. Even after experiencing changes in her eligibility as a recipient, she failed to report these changes. The details of her improper claims show that she received 6.7 million won in basic livelihood benefits over 24 payments, and 3.6 million won in housing benefits over 42 payments. Additionally, by maintaining her recipient status, she was able to receive medical treatment at hospitals, resulting in Seo-gu paying 43.92 million won in medical benefits to healthcare institutions over 175 instances.

However, Ms. A was actually receiving monthly rent from Mr. B, with whom she was in a common-law relationship, and was using a debit card in her son's name or receiving hundreds of thousands of won for living expenses. Furthermore, she was found to have purchased a used Equus sedan, registered it under an acquaintance's name, and used the vehicle herself.

The court stated, "The defendant failed to fulfill her obligation to promptly report any changes in her income and assets to the relevant authorities," adding, "It is difficult to find a sense of law-abiding awareness in the defendant, and her repeated fraudulent claims of various benefits make the nature of her offense serious." Regarding the sentencing, the court explained, "However, the sentence was determined in consideration of the expectation that the improperly received amounts will be recovered through restitution measures."