Seo-gu in Gwangju Introduces 'Individual Budget System'... Expanding Choices for People with Disabilities

Selected for First Ministry of Health and Welfare Pilot Project
Secures Project Budget of Approximately 75 Million Won
Six-Month Pilot Operation Starting This May

Gwangju Seo-gu Office Exterior View

Seo-gu District in Gwangju Metropolitan City is working to enhance the rights and interests of people with disabilities by providing customized budget support that guarantees their choice and autonomy. On January 13, Seo-gu announced that it had been selected for the Ministry of Health and Welfare’s “2026 Individual Budget System for People with Disabilities Pilot Project” for the first time in Gwangju, securing a total project budget of approximately 75 million won.

This project is being promoted as part of the national policy task to “strengthen individualized services and health rights for people with disabilities.” It is a system that moves away from the provider-centered, standardized service delivery model, allowing people with disabilities to directly select and plan services according to their own needs.

Seo-gu will operate the pilot project for six months, from May to October, targeting 30 people with disabilities who are currently using at least one of four voucher programs: activity support for people with disabilities, daytime and after-school activity services for people with developmental disabilities, and developmental rehabilitation services.

Participants can convert up to 20% of their current voucher benefits into an individual budget, which can be used for a wide range of daily living and social activities, such as purchasing specialized shoes for people with disabilities, improving their living environment, or enrolling in educational courses. However, use for purposes outside the project’s objectives, such as alcohol, tobacco, or lottery tickets, is restricted.

Seo-gu will establish a cooperative system with the Seo-gu Welfare Center for the Disabled to ensure the professionalism and stable operation of the project. The district plans to systematically support the entire process, from developing service utilization plans to budget execution, settlement, and monitoring, to enhance convenience for participants.

Kim Ikang, Mayor of Seo-gu, stated, “This pilot project will be a turning point, allowing people with disabilities to become proactive designers of their own lives rather than passive recipients of welfare services,” adding, “We will create a customized welfare model unique to ‘Good City Seo-gu’ that reflects the voices of each individual with a disability.”