Cheongyang County Fills Welfare Gaps for Households in Crisis with 1.5 Billion Won Safety Net

Customized Support for Medical, Living, and Housing Needs in Emergencies Such as Illness, Unemployment, and Disasters
Proactive Fund Management Among Local Governments Nationwide
"Immediate Allocation Where Needed"

Cheongyang County Office Exterior View

Cheongyang County in South Chungcheong Province has allocated separate funds for households in crisis that fall outside the scope of institutional welfare. The initiative aims to ensure that residents whose livelihoods have collapsed due to sudden illness, unemployment, or accidents do not slip through the cracks.

According to Cheongyang County on January 21, the county is operating the "Welfare Blind Spot Relief Fund Support Project" to assist households in crisis that are unable to receive sufficient support through existing welfare systems, thereby working to establish a comprehensive welfare safety net.

This project involves the local government creating its own fund to respond flexibly to crisis situations, with the county managing a fund of approximately 1.5 billion won. The primary beneficiaries are residents facing temporary livelihood crises due to illness, unemployment, accidents, disasters, or gaps in caregiving.

Support is provided after case reviews, with a focus on customized assistance for households in crisis that exceed the income and asset criteria of existing welfare programs. The support covers all aspects of daily life, including medical, living expenses, and housing.

In the medical sector, up to 3 million won is provided for out-of-pocket expenses and non-insured items such as various examination and treatment fees, and up to 2 million won is provided to alleviate the burden of caregiving costs.

For living expenses, the Emergency Welfare Support Act standards are applied, with payments ranging from 783,000 won per month for single-person households to approximately 1.99 million won for four-person households. Additional support is provided for fuel costs, childbirth expenses, and funeral expenses to help residents return to daily life after a crisis.

In the housing sector, up to 1 million won is provided for environmental improvements for households requiring urgent repairs, and up to 3 million won is provided for restoration costs in cases of housing damage due to fire or disaster, depending on the extent of the damage. If a fatality occurs due to an accident or fire, up to 3 million won in special relief funds is also provided.

County Governor Kim Dongon stated, "The Welfare Blind Spot Relief Fund is a meaningful system operated with resources independently prepared by Cheongyang County," adding, "We will actively operate this program to supplement the limitations of institutional welfare and provide practical help to residents in need."