South Korea Begins Paying High Fuel Price Relief Grants of Up to 600,000 Won

High fuel price relief grants began being paid at 9 a.m. April 27 to basic livelihood recipients, the near-poor and single-parent families.

According to the Ministry of the Interior and Safety on April 27, basic livelihood recipients will receive 550,000 won per person. The near-poor 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, for a maximum of 600,000 won.

To ease crowding during the first week of applications, 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, applicants whose birth year ends in 1 or 6 may apply; April 28, 2 or 7; April 29, 3 or 8; and April 30, 4 or 9 and 5 or 0. With May 1, Labor Day, designated a public holiday, applicants with last digits 4 or 9 and 5 or 0 may both apply on April 30.

The application deadline is 6 p.m. May 8, with applications accepted for two weeks through online and offline channels. Depending on the region, the day-of-week system may be extended for in-person applications.

The grants will be provided as credit or debit card top-ups, prepaid cards, or local gift certificates. Card top-ups will be loaded the day after applying and will be used before other payment methods when making purchases. Mobile or card-type local gift certificates can be requested through the app or website of the local government with jurisdiction over the applicant’s address. Those seeking paper certificates or prepaid cards must apply in person at an 읍면동 administrative welfare center or resident service center.

Eligible 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 100,000 won in the Seoul metropolitan area, 150,000 won outside the metropolitan area, 200,000 won in preferred depopulation areas, and up to 250,000 won in special depopulation areas.

As in 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 major-company delivery apps. However, they can be used through public delivery apps such as “Ttaenggyeoyo.” For restaurant franchises, use is limited to franchisee-run locations, 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 National Petition Center or in person at 읍면동 administrative welfare centers and other local offices.

Local governments will review submitted cases and notify applicants individually. For inquiries, tailored assistance is available through the government civil service call center, a dedicated call center, and call centers operated by each local government.



* This article has been translated by AI.

Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.