Gyeonggi Province Youth Basic Income: Third Quarter Applications Begin July 1

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Park No-hoon] Gyeonggi Province is accepting third quarter applications for the 'Youth Basic Income' program, which provides 250,000 won per quarter to 24-year-old youth, from July 1 to 30.

Eligible applicants must have continuously resided in Gyeonggi Province for 3 years or more as of the application date, or have a cumulative residence period of 10 years or more, and currently maintain household registration in Gyeonggi Province. Additionally, applicants must have been born between July 2, 1996 and July 1, 1997, making them 24 years old.

Eligible youth can apply online or via mobile after registering as a member on the Gyeonggi Province Jobs Platform Jobaba (apply.jobaba.net).

Required documents include a residence certificate (issued after July 1, with the last 5 years or complete address history included).

However, since the second quarter, a public My Data service has been implemented to simplify document submission. If youth utilize the My Data service, they do not need to attach a residence certificate.

The My Data service is a system where personal information of applicants held by public institutions is stored on the applicant's smartphone or cloud rather than a central server, allowing information subjects to view their data anytime and provide it to institutions.

Youth who previously applied to have automatic application set up in the preceding quarter will be subject to screening without separate application.

However, if there are changes to personal information, or if applying for retroactive payment from the fourth quarter of last year or the first and second quarters of this year, or for lump-sum payment of the fourth quarter of this year, information must be updated during the application period.

After verifying the applicant's age and residence period, the Province plans to distribute 250,000 won in regional currency corresponding to the third quarter starting August 20 in the form of electronic card or mobile payment.

Applicants for lump-sum payment can receive 500,000 won for this year's third and fourth quarter distributions in a single payment.

Once selected as a payment recipient, applicants will receive a confirmation message via text, and the card will be sent to the address entered during application.

After receiving the card, applicants can register it through a customer service center or mobile app and then use it freely like a check card at traditional markets, small businesses, and other merchants within their residential area.

Use is restricted at department stores, large supermarkets, supermarket chains (SSM), entertainment establishments, and similar venues.

For more information, contact the youth welfare departments of each city and county, the Gyeonggi Province call center (031-120), or the internet portal 'Jobaba'.

Jung Hyun-ah, Head of the Gyeonggi Province Youth Welfare Policy Division, said, "We hope that the lump-sum payment of youth basic income will help young people and small business owners overcome national challenges together."

Meanwhile, as a temporary measure this year, the Province is making one-time payments for 2021 only to youth who have consented to lump-sum payment of the 'Youth Basic Income' program in order to quickly support young people facing economic difficulties due to COVID-19 and other factors.

Based on the first half results, 52.4% of first quarter applicants (145,592 people) and 57.8% of second quarter applicants (61,337 people) respectively applied for lump-sum payment and received this year's payments in a single distribution.

In addition, an online survey was conducted from May 14-20 targeting 3,000 youth who received youth basic income in the first and second quarters. The results showed that 90.2% of respondents were 'satisfied' with the lump-sum payment.

Reasons for satisfaction included 'no need to apply each quarter (38.8%)' and 'helpful in overcoming COVID-19 (32.1%)', in that order.