From Housing Stability to Care, Safety, and Mobility Rights
Gradual Expansion of Citizen-Centered Policies
On February 2, Changwon Special City in Gyeongnam Province announced plans to gradually expand citizen-centered policies aimed at reducing anxiety factors in daily life and enhancing everyday stability.
The city emphasized that it is rapidly promoting practical, daily life-oriented policies, focusing on changes that citizens can feel during key moments such as housing, care, and safety.
◇ Starting Point of Daily Life Policies: Housing Stability
Changwon City is implementing a housing policy centered on actual demand to ensure housing stability, which is the first step toward daily life security. This year, the city will invest 79.2 billion won to expand customized housing welfare support tailored to different life stages and housing conditions, while also strengthening the management system for apartment complexes.
First, both the eligibility criteria and the amount of housing benefits for low-income households will be expanded. Due to the increase in the 2026 median income standard, more households with an income at or below 48% of the median will qualify for housing benefits. For a four-person household, the standard rental subsidy will increase by 8.5%, from 351,000 won to 381,000 won per month.
Starting this year, the housing cost burden for households with newborns will also be reduced. Previously, support for home purchase loan interest was limited to newlyweds, but it will now be expanded to households raising infants within 24 months of birth. The support amount will also increase from a maximum of 1.5 million won per year, with an additional 300,000 won per child, and the support period will be extended from up to five years to an additional five years for each additional child born.
To support victims of rental fraud, the city will newly provide up to 1.5 million won in moving expenses to households that relocate due to rental fraud starting in 2026, in addition to the existing programs for emergency housing rent support and low-interest rental loan interest support.
◇ Building a Safety Net for Daily Life Through Integrated Care and Safety Insurance
In response to the complex welfare needs brought about by entering a super-aged society and the rapid increase in single-person households, Changwon City will fully implement an integrated care program. This program ensures that any citizen in need of care can receive one-stop medical, nursing, and housing welfare services in their current community.
To this end, the city established a dedicated integrated care team in January. This year, a total budget of 1.39 billion won will be used to build public-private networks, including service providers and cooperative medical care for discharged patients, to provide tailored support for individual situations. The city plans to actively identify those in need of care and build a local care system where both care recipients and their families can feel secure.
The city will also strengthen and implement the "Citizen Safety Insurance" program so that all citizens can quickly return to their daily lives in the event of unexpected disasters or accidents. All Changwon citizens are automatically covered without the need for separate enrollment, and the number of covered items has increased from 24 to 25 with the addition of burn surgery expenses. The program has also been improved to include coverage for sailor drowning fatalities and dog bite injuries treated at general hospitals.
In the event of an accident, individuals or their families can conveniently claim insurance benefits within three years, and a fixed benefit is paid regardless of any other personal insurance policies. In addition, citizens are covered for accidents or disasters anywhere in the country, regardless of other insurance coverage, ensuring overlapping protection.
◇ Guaranteeing Mobility Rights and Promoting Eco-Friendly Lifestyles
To address transportation challenges in underserved areas, Changwon City will significantly expand the operation of the demand-responsive "Nubida Bus" in the second half of this year. The Nubida Bus allows passengers to call for a ride, and instead of following a fixed route, it flexibly travels between stops within the service area based on demand. This year, 1.23 billion won will be invested to expand the program by designating the Jinhae New Port area as a pilot zone, adding to the existing three buses.
Citizens can easily request a bus through an app and use it at their desired time and location. Fares and transfer systems are the same as city buses, so there is no additional financial burden. The city also plans to verify the complementary and synergistic effects with existing city buses through a study on the implementation of demand-responsive transit.
To create an eco-friendly and healthy transportation environment, the city will launch the nation’s first "Nubija Carbon Neutrality Points" system this year. Citizens who use the public bicycle "Nubija" will receive a cash incentive of 100 won per kilometer, up to a maximum of 70,000 won per person per year.
After registering as a Nubija member and a Carbon Neutrality Points member, citizens will automatically receive incentives when using the bicycle. However, one-day pass users who are not members are excluded from the program, and to receive benefits, citizens must purchase weekly, monthly, semi-annual, or annual memberships. Through this initiative, the city expects to create a virtuous cycle that not only reduces carbon dioxide emissions in the city center but also alleviates traffic congestion and improves citizens’ health.
Changwon City is focusing on systematically improving key aspects of daily life to enhance citizens’ satisfaction. Going forward, the city will continue to reduce sources of anxiety, strengthen the urban safety net, and promote eco-friendly mobility culture, concentrating administrative resources on improving the quality of life for its citizens.
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