Inje County, Gangwon Province, is intensifying efforts to expand enrollment in disaster insurance for natural calamities such as floods and earthquakes, while also directly assessing the living conditions of vulnerable populations during the summer heat.
According to Inje County on August 5, the county will operate a 'Focused Enrollment Period for Disaster Insurance' until August 31. This initiative aims to reduce property damage from natural disasters and support rapid recovery.
The disaster insurance program is overseen by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety and operated by private insurance companies. The government and local authorities subsidize 70% to over 92% of the premiums, significantly lowering the financial burden on enrollees.
The coverage includes typhoons, floods, heavy rain, strong winds, high waves, tsunamis, heavy snowfall, and earthquakes. Eligible properties include homes, greenhouses, vinyl houses, and small business establishments. Renters can also enroll for home insurance, but unregistered buildings, vacant houses, and accessory structures are excluded.
Inje County provides up to 100,000 won in premium support for homes and small businesses, and up to 200,000 won for greenhouses, allowing enrollees to pay only 1,000 won.
This year, the program has been improved. Even if there are no weather warnings in the affected area, if a warning is in effect in a neighboring area and a damage verification certificate is submitted, the eligibility for insurance payouts can be reassessed. The annual coverage limit for small business insurance has also doubled, enhancing the level of protection.
As of August 3, Inje County has recorded 2,503 enrollments in disaster insurance, including 1,558 homes, 787 greenhouses, and 158 small businesses. As of July 6, the county had provided 57,638,000 won in premium support for 934 enrollments this year.
The county plans to work with administrative welfare centers in towns and villages to provide focused guidance on the enrollment process and support details to residents, farmers, and small businesses, particularly targeting facilities vulnerable to natural disasters.
Efforts to address the heat wave are also being strengthened. Choi Sang-ki, the head of Inje County, visited households vulnerable to heat in Inje-eup to check on the availability of cooling supplies, assess living inconveniences due to the heat, and review the management status of key individuals. He instructed that any identified inconveniences be addressed promptly and emphasized the need for meticulous on-site management to protect vulnerable populations.
Inje County will continue to check on the well-being of elderly individuals living alone and those with health vulnerabilities, enhancing tailored protective activities during heat advisories. The county aims to build a more robust safety net for residents by simultaneously promoting disaster insurance to reduce property damage and implementing measures to prevent loss of life during heat waves.
Gwon Oh-young, head of the Safety and Traffic Division in Inje County, stated, “We hope that residents, farmers, and small business owners actively enroll in insurance to prepare for unexpected natural disasters such as heavy rain and typhoons.”
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.