Gimhae City in South Gyeongsang Province is launching a community-focused welfare administration that pairs relief from high fuel prices with services spanning residents’ life course.
Beginning with relief payments, the city is pursuing a multi-pronged strategy that also addresses childcare, senior health, and innovation in community sports.
Under the national government’s directive on high fuel-price relief payments, Gimhae will distribute funds in two phases from the 27th through July 3.
In the first phase, the city will provide up to 600,000 KRW (about $450) per person to basic livelihood recipients, near-poverty households, and single-parent families. In the second phase, it will grant 150,000 KRW (about $112.50) per person to households in the bottom 70% of the income distribution. The payments are restricted for use at local small businesses and at merchants that accept the city’s community gift certificates.
In the child nutrition program, Gimhae plans to increase funding and diversify delivery mechanisms to address gaps in food assistance. The city set this year’s budget 12% higher than last year—12.5 billion KRW (about $9.38 million)—and expanded the number of beneficiaries to 9,012.
Support has been broadened to include not only children from low-income households at risk of missing meals but also those who use local after-school centers and care facilities. Services will be delivered through meal cards, group meal programs, and holiday lunchbox distributions tailored to each child’s circumstances.
For senior health, Gimhae has established an integrated management system through its Dementia Safety Center to consider both the emotional and financial burdens on patients and their families. The city will offer early dementia screening and counseling, hospital referrals, financial support for treatment costs, anti-wandering services, and family-focused programs.
In community sports, the Gimhae West Sports Center will become the first public sports facility to introduce a Culture and Sports Integrated Pass. Moving away from monthly registrations, the pass allows residents to purchase ticketed access to programs such as fitness, yoga, Pilates, and Zumba.
The city says these measures are intended to provide tangible welfare services that residents will feel in their daily lives.
A city official said Gimhae will provide clear guidance and careful administration to prevent any inconvenience during benefit applications and service use.
