Seoul to Provide Heating Cost Support for Vulnerable Groups... '100,000 Won' per Household

393,000 Households Including Basic Livelihood Security Recipients to Receive Support
Direct Deposit Without Separate Application for Fast Assistance
Rising Energy Costs Due to Climate Change and Inflation Add to the Burden

The Seoul Metropolitan Government will provide a total of 39.3 billion won in heating cost support to vulnerable groups. Basic livelihood security recipients and others will receive 100,000 won per household.

According to the Seoul Metropolitan Government on January 25, this round of heating cost support will be provided to a total of 393,000 households, including 350,000 households receiving National Basic Livelihood Security benefits (covering livelihood, medical, housing, and educational assistance), 5,000 households receiving Seoul-type basic livelihood support, and 38,000 households in the near-poor category (such as the near-poor disabled, those in self-sufficiency programs, and low-income single-parent families) residing in Seoul.

Alleyway view of the Doney-dong Shantytown in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Photo by The Asia Business Daily

The amount of support is 100,000 won per household. The city is focusing on universal support to ensure that no one is left out, providing heating cost subsidies solely based on eligibility, without any additional conditions.

In addition, to ensure that recipients receive the support quickly, the city will identify eligible households through each district office without requiring a separate application, and deposit the heating cost directly into the head of household's designated account. The payment process will be completed by the second week of February at the latest. However, for households without a registered account, those using seizure-protected accounts, or those unable to open an account for other reasons, cash will be provided as an exception.

Last year, Seoul's consumer price index rose by 2.4% year-on-year, but the living necessities price index increased by 2.9% over the same period, indicating that the actual perceived inflation rate was even higher. According to the Korea City Gas Association's monthly statistics, the average household heating cost increased from 98,825 won in January 2024 to 106,269 won in January 2025.

Yoon Jongjang, Director of Welfare, said, "Vulnerable groups are facing even greater difficulties due to the combination of high prices, economic downturn, and the cold wave," adding, "We hope that this heating cost support will help protect citizens' daily lives and provide at least some relief during the cold winter."