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Suwon Mayor Yeom Tae-young

Ansan, Gyeonggi Province, plans to become the first South Korean city to pay disaster allowances to international residents, who account for 14% of its total population.

On Apr. 2, Ansan Mayor Yoon Hwa-seop announced, “We will be providing livelihood security support benefits of 100,000 won (US$81) each to all Ansan residents and 70,000 won (US$57) each to international residents.” As of Apr. 1, Ansan had a total of 651,211 South Korean residents and 88,128 international residents. The support is to be provided in the form of a local government currency known as “Daon,” which can only be used within the regional community.

“In recognition of its acknowledgement of cultural and ethnic diversity, Ansan was the first city in South Korea to be designated by the Council of Europe as an ‘intercultural city,” Yoon noted.

“Given that international residents are assessed at 70% of the level for South Koreans in general share tax calculations by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, we made the decision to provide support to international residents as well,” he added.

In a press conference the same afternoon, Suwon Mayor Yeom Tae-young announced plans to provide 100,000 won each in disaster income to 1,192,762 residents.

“Finally, this is difficult, since we were classified as a ‘local government not entitled to the central government’s general subsidies grant after the Park Geun-hye administration’s reorganization of local finances in 2016, but we determined that our residents’ safety and livelihoods take precedence,” he said. This decision brings the number of Gyeonggi cities and counties providing disaster allowances up to 26 out of 31.

By Hong Yong-duk, South Gyeonggi correspondent

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