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01Introduction to the Republic of Korea
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02Multicultural Families and Foreigner Support Services
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03Residence and Naturalization
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04Korean Culture and Life
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05Pregnancy and Childbirth
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06Education of Children
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07Health and Healthcare
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08Social Security System
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09Employment and Labor
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10References
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Chapter Introduction Video
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FAQ
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Status of family centers
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Current Status of Danuri Helpline
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Migrant Background Youth Support Foundation
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Current Status of Saeil Center (New Job Center for Women)
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Immigration Offices
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Major Tourist Destinations by Region
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Contact Numbers for Key Foreign Embassies and Consulates in Korea
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Guide to Personal Information Protection
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Danuri Call Center : 1577-1366
가족상담전화 : 1644-6621
21F, 173, Toegye-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul (Chungmuro 3-ga, Namsan Square Building)
Copyright ⓒ KOREA INSTITUTE FOR HEALTHY FAMILY. All Rights Reserved
Emergency Welfare Aid
- Home
- Social Security System
- Emergency Welfare Aid
Emergency Welfare Aid
If Korean citizens have difficulty subsisting due to an unforeseen crisis, they can receive temporary support such as living costs. Foreign nationals can also get a support under this system according to ordinances.
01Qualifications of foreign residents to be eligible to make a request for emergency welfare supports
- 1 Foreign residents who are married to Korean citizens
- 2 A person who is divorced from a spouse who is a Korean citizen or whose spouse is deceased and is taking care of a direct descendant of Korean nationality.
- 3 Foreign residents who are deemed refugees in accordance with Paragraph 2, Article 2 of the National Refugee Law
- 4 Foreign residents who have been victims of fire, crime, or natural disaster through no fault of their own
- 5 Foreign residents who are deemed as requiring emergency support by the Minister of Health and Welfare as follows:
02Qualifications
Emergent welfare supports aim to support families having difficulty maintaining their livelihood due to an unforeseen crisis. It targets those who are ① in crisis (for 1 of 9 reasons below) or households ② meet the conditions related to income, property, etc.
(1)Emergency Cases
- 1 Loss of income occurring due to the death of the main income earner, runaway/abandonment, missing person, detention, etc.
- 2 Serious illness or injury
- 3 Neglect, abandonment or abuse by a member of the family
- 4 Household violence or sexual violence
- 5 Unable to live in house or building due to fire
- 6 Difficulties in performing business due to temporary or permanent closure, a fire in a place of business, etc. of the primary or the secondary earner
- 7 Deprivation of the main source of income due to loss of job of the primary or the secondary earnery
- 8 Cause or event specified by ordinance of each local government pursuant to Ordinance of the Ministry of Health and Welfare
- 9 Other cases determined and notified by the Minister of Health & Welfare include: ① Divorce from the main breadwinner; ② Having public utilities cut off; ③ Being released from a correctional facility; ④ Becoming homeless due to neglect or abandonment by family or struggles to make a living; ⑤ Someone subject to blind spot discovery, integrated case management, or a high-risk group for suicide, or has been recommended by the relevant department (agency) as having struggles with livelihood; ⑥ Someone relocating his/her residence because of difficulty living in the house or building due to another person's crime
(2)Income and property standard conditions
- Income: Less than 75% of the standard median monthly income (as of 2024)
| Family size | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KRW/Month | 1,671,334 | 2,761,957 | 3,535,992 | 4,297,434 | 5,021,801 | 5,713,777 |
- Median income for a family of 7 persons or more increases by KRW 672,468 for every additional person.
- Property standard: Big city (241,000,000 won), small or medium-sized city (152,000,000 won), farming and fishing villages (130,000,000 won)
- Financial asset criteria: Less than KRW 6 million added to the amount necessary for daily livelihood (livelihood reserve fund) for each household member (however, for housing subsidy, less than KRW 2 million added to the amount of financial assets for each household member)
| No. of household members | 1 person | 2 person | 3 person | 4 person | 5 person | 6 person |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amount (KRW thousand) | 8,228 | 9,682 | 10,714 | 11,729 | 12,695 | 13,618 |
03Application and Other Procedures
- In the event of an emergency, call a welfare center (Community Service Center) of your city, gun (county), gu (district), or eup/ myeon/ dong (township) according to the register of your residence, or the Health & Welfare Counseling Center (☎ 129).
- Public officials will conduct a field investigation, provide welfare support first, and then check whether support criteria are satisfied. If the condition is found to be not at a crisis or the applicant is not qualified for the support, benefits shall be discontinued and the entire funds may be required to be returned.
- If emergency situations do not improve even after emergency welfare support is completed, another countries’ related systems or private-run welfare programs can be introduced to beneficiaries.
- Ask for support and report
- On-site
examination and advanced supportMayors, governors of gun or heads of gu offices (Officials in charge of emergency aid) - Post examinationExamination of income and property
- Eligibility review• Emergency Support Deliberation Commission (Public-Private Partnership)
• Support ended if it is deemed to be inappropriate/return of support funding - Post handoverBasic livelihood aid / Private support program
heads of gu offices
04Types of Aid(For a family of 4 people/ month in large cities)
Livelihood support (KRW 1,508,600), housing support (KRW 662,500), support for the use of welfare facilities (KRW 1,494,100), medical support (KRW 3 million/ case)
- Other additional supports include education fee support, fuel expenses (Oct.~Mar.), childbirth expenses, funeral expenses, electric bill, etc.
| No. of family member | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amount supported (KRW/ month) | 713,100 | 1,178,400 | 1,508,600 | 1,833,500 | 2,142,600 | 2,437,800 |
- Support amounts vary depending on the No. of household members.
If you have a child to care for (with Korean nationality) and have difficulty in maintaining your livelihood, avail of welfare counseling at the Health and Welfare Consultation Center (Tel. 129) or city, gun (county), gu (district) offices or eup/ myeon/ dong (township) Community Center of your residence. When requesting for emergent welfare support, the civil servant in-charge will check the situation paying a visit to a home, and determine the necessary support promptly. If an applicant household becomes eligible for urgent support, they can get support for a certain period. If you have difficulty communicating in Korean, you may use the translation and interpretation services of the Multicultural Family Support Center or enlist the help of a Korean friend. If you are eligible, you may receive basic livelihood support.
