High fuel price relief grants will be paid starting at 9 a.m. on April 27. Eligible recipients include basic livelihood beneficiaries, the near-poor and single-parent families.
According to the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, basic livelihood recipients will receive 550,000 won per person, while near-poor households and single-parent families will receive 450,000 won per person. Residents outside the Seoul metropolitan area and in depopulation areas will receive an additional 50,000 won per person, bringing the maximum to 600,000 won.
To ease congestion during the first week, both online and in-person applications will follow a day-of-week system based on the last digit of an applicant’s birth year.
On April 27 (Monday), applicants with birth years ending in 1 or 6 may apply; April 28 (Tuesday) is for 2 or 7; April 29 (Wednesday) for 3 or 8; and April 30 (Thursday) for 4 or 9 as well as 5 or 0. With May 1 (Labor Day) designated a public holiday, those ending in 4 or 9 and 5 or 0 may apply together on April 30.
The application deadline is 6 p.m. on May 8, with applications accepted for two weeks through online and offline channels. Some areas may extend the day-of-week system for in-person applications.
Benefits will be provided as a credit or debit card top-up, a prepaid card, or local gift certificates. Card top-ups will be credited the day after application and will be used before other payment methods at checkout. Mobile or card-type local gift certificates can be requested through an app or website run by the applicant’s local government. Those seeking paper certificates or prepaid cards must apply in person at an 읍면동 administrative welfare center or residents’ center.
Vulnerable recipients who miss the first application period may apply again during the second round, from May 18 to July 3.
The general public may also apply during the second round. Payments are set at 100,000 won for the Seoul metropolitan area, 150,000 won for non-metropolitan areas, 200,000 won for preferred depopulation areas, and up to 250,000 won for special depopulation areas.
As last year, the grants can be used at small businesses with annual sales of 3 billion won or less, including traditional markets, neighborhood supermarkets, restaurants and clothing stores.
They cannot be used at department stores, large discount chains, corporate-run supermarkets, e-commerce sites or delivery apps run by major companies. However, they can be used through public delivery apps such as “Ttaenggyeoyo.” For dining franchises, use is limited to franchisee-run outlets, not company-owned stores.
The government plans to provide information on where the grants can be used through private map apps starting at the end of this month.
The grants can be used through Aug. 31, and any unused balance will expire automatically.
People who dispute their eligibility determination or payment amount may file objections from May 18 to July 17, either online through the 국민신문고 portal or in person at 읍면동 administrative welfare centers.
Local governments will review submitted cases and notify applicants individually. Inquiries can be directed to the government civil service call center, a dedicated call center, or local government call centers for tailored guidance.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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