The government is set to provide a second round of support payments to alleviate the financial burden caused by high fuel prices. Approximately 36 million people in the bottom 70% income bracket will receive varying amounts of up to 250,000 won, depending on their region.
On May 11, the government held a joint briefing at the Government Seoul Building to announce the details. Applications will be accepted from May 18 to July 3.
The support payments will differ by region: 100,000 won for the metropolitan area, 150,000 won for non-metropolitan areas, 200,000 won for designated areas experiencing population decline, and 250,000 won for special support regions.
High Asset Individuals Excluded...70% Income Threshold Based on Health Insurance Premiums
While the payments target the bottom 70% of income earners, individuals with significant assets will be excluded. Households with a total property tax assessment exceeding 1.2 billion won or financial income exceeding 20 million won in 2024 will not qualify for support.
The household criteria will be based on the resident registration as of March 30, 2026, but spouses and children who are dependents under health insurance will be considered part of the same household, even if they reside at different addresses. Generally, dual-income couples will be treated as separate households, but they may opt for the same household classification if it is more beneficial for insurance premium calculations.
The selection criteria will be based on the health insurance premiums paid as of March 2026. The bottom 70% will be identified using standards based on the number of household members and insurance type.
For instance, a single-income worker in a one-person household must have a monthly income of 1.3 million won or less, while a two-person household must have a monthly income of 1.4 million won or less. For regional subscribers, the thresholds are 800,000 won for a one-person household and 1.2 million won for a two-person household. However, to avoid disadvantaging multi-income households, the criteria will be adjusted to include one additional household member compared to single-income standards.
Payments via Cards and Local Currency...Must Be Used by End of August
Recipients can choose to receive the payments through credit or debit cards, local love gift certificates, or prepaid cards. If applying via card, funds will be loaded the next day and will be deducted before regular card transactions when making purchases.
Mobile or card-based local love gift certificates can be applied for through local government apps or websites, while paper gift certificates and prepaid cards can be collected at administrative welfare centers in towns and villages.
During the first week of applications, a designated day system will be implemented based on the last digit of applicants' birth years for both online and offline submissions. The usage area will be limited to the local government jurisdiction of the recipient's address, and the funds must be used by August 31.
Spending will be restricted to stores with annual sales of 3 billion won or less, although gas stations will be exempt from this sales limit. Conversely, online shopping malls and entertainment or gambling establishments will not be eligible for use.
The government will accept appeals through the National Complaint Center and administrative welfare centers. The application period for appeals will be open until July 17, and a 'visiting application service' will be available for elderly individuals or those with mobility issues, where officials will visit them directly.
Yoon Ho-joong, Minister of the Ministry of Interior and Safety, stated, "This second round of support payments for high fuel prices will help alleviate the burdens faced by citizens due to high fuel costs, inflation, and exchange rates, and will serve as an opportunity to revive consumer spending. We will ensure that the application and usage processes are smooth and convenient for everyone."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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