Politics · India · 3 hrs ago
1.47 Million Eligible South Koreans Not Enrolled in Welfare Membership
South Korea’s Welfare Membership program checks a person’s income, assets and household situation to identify support they may qualify for.
About 1.47 million expected enrollees were not signed up as of August, according to data from the Korea Social Security Information Service.
Of about 9.47 million people expected to join, roughly 8.01 million were enrolled, an 84.5% rate.
The program can point members to 164 types of support, including care services for older people, high school tuition aid and childcare.
Across the country, about 12.64 million people were enrolled, equal to 24.7% of the population; enrollment was especially low among people in their 40s and 50s.
Lawmaker Lee In-young said low enrollment could leave people unaware of help they can receive.
He urged policies to ensure vulnerable people expected to join are enrolled, but no specific next steps were given.
About 1.465 million South Koreans who were supposed to be enrolled in the Welfare Membership program had not joined as of August, according to data released by lawmaker Lee In-young.
The data showed 8.008 million of 9.473 million eligible people were enrolled, an enrollment rate of 84.5%.
Across the whole population, about 12.64 million people were enrolled, or 24.7%.
The program analyzes personal and household circumstances to identify welfare services people may qualify for and notify them.
Lee called for policies to ensure that vulnerable people who are required to enroll join the program.
- Who
- About 1.465 million eligible South Koreans were not enrolled. The figures were cited by Democratic Party lawmaker Lee In-young.
- What
- Data showed that 84.5% of people required to enroll in Welfare Membership had joined.
- When
- The figures were for August. Lee disclosed them on the 22nd.
- Where
- South Korea.
- Why
- Welfare Membership identifies and notifies people about services they may qualify for. Lee said low enrollment could leave people unaware of benefits.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Of 9.473 million people required to enroll, 8.008 million were members, according to the data.
Lee In-young disclosed the figures he received from the Korea Social Security Information Service.
- Required-enrollment group
- 9.473 million people
- Enrolled among required group
- 8.008 million
- Not enrolled
- 1.465 million
- Enrollment rate among required group
- 84.5%
- Total population enrolled
- About 12.64 million, or 24.7%
1 source
What people are saying
The program was introduced so that people would not fail to apply because they do not know about services they can receive, but enrollment is low.
Develop various policies to ensure that vulnerable groups who are required to enroll in the membership do so.