Seoul city gov't to give relief grants to foreigners

Some foreign residents of Seoul will receive emergency relief grants to counter the economic impacts of the coronavirus outbreak, the city government announced Wednesday.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government said it will begin accepting applications from foreign residents eligible for the grants starting Monday, and continuing for four weeks.

The city government decided to pay emergency relief to foreign residents based on the National Human Rights Commission’s recommendation. In June, the Commission said excluding foreign residents from the relief program constitutes discrimination.

The city already paid emergency relief grants to low-income Korean households in March. Some 1.6 million households received a total of 542.3 billion won ($457 million).

According to the city government, there are 95,000 foreign households in the city. Foreigners with work visas and who have registered their residencies in Seoul for more than 90 days as of Thursday are eligible for the grants. Students, trainees and illegal immigrants are excluded.

Up to 500,000 won payments will be given to households whose total income is lower than the median income.

According to city government statistics, the median monthly income for single-person households in Seoul in 2020 is 1.76 million won. The median income is 1.99 million won for two-person households, 3.87 million won for three-person households and 4.75 million won for four-person households.

District offices will also accept applications from Sept. 14 to 25.

BY SER MYO-JA [ser.myoja@joongang.co.kr]