Staggered Application by Birth Year; Usage Rules & Scams Alert

Application Period & Eligibility: Benefit Payment

Benefit Payment: The first benefit payment application runs from July 21, 9 AM, to September 12, 6 PM. To ease early congestion, a five-day staggered schedule (July 21–25) allows applicants based on their birth year’s last digit. Eligibility extends to all Korean citizens residing in the country as of June 18. The base amount is ₩150,000, with allowances up to ₩450,000 depending on income level, social category, and region. 부동산 플랫폼

Benefit Amount & Criteria

Every citizen receives a base amount of ₩150,000. Welfare recipients get an extra ₩250,000 (₩400,000 total), while low-income and single-parent families receive an additional ₩150,000 (₩300,000 total). Non-metropolitan residents (outside Seoul, Gyeonggi, Incheon) receive ₩30,000 more, and people in 84 designated rural depopulation areas get an extra ₩50,000—bringing the maximum to ₩450,000. Exact amounts can be checked via the government notification service.

Application & Usage Methods

Apply online via card issuer websites/apps, mobile payment or local gift card apps. Offline applications are accepted at bank branches linked to card firms and local community centers; a mobile application service is also available. Funds must be spent by November 30 at participating small businesses (annual sales under ₩3 billion)—such as traditional markets, neighborhood stores, restaurants, and clinics—within the beneficiary’s registered region. Usage at department stores, large supermarkets, online malls, and entertainment venues is prohibited. wild ginseng

Scam Prevention

Beware of smishing texts disguised as benefit notifications. Legitimate government messages never include a URL, and requests for excessive personal or financial information are always fraudulent—terminate such interactions immediately. Report suspicious messages to the anti-phishing hotline (118) or the Financial Supervisory Service (1332). If you fall victim to fraud, contact your bank and the police (112) immediately to freeze transactions and limit financial loss.