Ministry of Interior and Safety Prepares for Second Round of High Oil Price Relief Payments

Song Kyung-joo, head of the Local Finance and Economy Bureau at the Ministry of Interior and Safety, holds a video conference with heads of planning and coordination from 17 cities and provinces at the Government Sejong Center on May 13 to review preparations for the second round of high oil price relief payments and other local finance issues. [Photo=Ministry of Interior and Safety]

The Ministry of Interior and Safety held a meeting on May 13 with planning and coordination heads from 17 cities and provinces to review preparations for the second round of high oil price relief payments, set to begin on May 18.
During the meeting, officials addressed inconveniences experienced by residents during the first round of payments and requested local governments to ensure a smoother process for the upcoming distribution.
Since the second round aims to cover 70% of the population, officials emphasized the need to secure sufficient quantities of prepaid cards and other offline payment methods in anticipation of a significant increase in applicants compared to the first round.
They also urged local governments to utilize community broadcasting and social media channels to effectively inform residents about eligibility, application procedures, and payment amounts.
The ministry is committed to addressing welfare gaps. It highlighted that individuals who missed the opportunity to apply in the first round can still do so during the second round and stressed the importance of outreach efforts to ensure vulnerable populations receive the support they need.
Additionally, the ministry provided guidance to local governments on executing contracts in response to rising international commodity prices. They called for thorough inspections and oversight to prevent substandard construction in various projects, including forest restoration efforts.
Finally, officials emphasized the importance of preparing adequately for the stable operation of local tax delinquency management teams. Local governments that effectively manage these teams will be supported through incentives such as special grants.
Song Kyung-joo stated, "Thanks to the meticulous preparations by local governments, the first round of high oil price relief payments was conducted without significant confusion. We will ensure that the second round, starting on May 18, proceeds smoothly through close cooperation between central and local governments."
The second round of high oil price relief payments will be distributed to the bottom 70% of income earners based on the total health insurance premiums assessed for households in March of this year. Single-person households with workplace insurance will receive 130,000 won, two-person households will receive 140,000 won, while single-person households with regional insurance will receive 80,000 won, and two-person households will receive 120,000 won.

* This article has been translated by AI.

Park Ja Yeon naturepark127@ajunews.com