Gyeonggi Province Implements "Care for All" Service in 15 Cities and Counties

[Suwon Ilbo = Reporter Park No-hun] Gyeonggi Province announced on the 31st that it has implemented ‘Care for All’, one of the signature welfare policies of the eighth-term provincial administration’s ‘Gyeonggi 360° Care’, beginning in January in Yongin and other areas.

‘Care for All’ is a project that enhances the quality of life of residents by providing partial support for care labor costs to all residents of the province facing crises, regardless of age or income restrictions, and is carried out in two types: basic and expanded.

The province explained that it launched the project based on Governor Kim Dong-yeon’s belief that ‘care is not charity but an investment for a sustainable society, and any resident of Gyeonggi Province can be the subject of care.’

Nine cities and counties supporting the basic type are Yongin, Pyeongtaek, Hwaseong, Bucheon, Gwangmyeong, Yangpyeong, Gwacheon, Gapyeong, and Yeoncheon, while six areas including Siheung, Icheon, Anseong, Paju, Pocheon, and Namyangju are operating with the expanded type. Among these, six cities—Yongin, Gwangmyeong, Paju, Pocheon, Icheon, and Siheung—began accepting applications in January and are currently providing services. Yangpyeong, Gapyeong, Pyeongtaek, Gwacheon, Yeoncheon, and Anseong plan to start by the end of February, while the remaining three cities and counties are scheduled to commence in March.

The basic type service comprises five service areas: daily life care supporting physical and household activities, companion care supporting mobility, residential safety supporting simple repairs, meal support delivering meal boxes, and emergency shelter for short-term facility admission.

The expanded type adds two additional service areas to the five basic services: rehabilitation care supporting customized exercise rehabilitation, and psychological counseling providing psychological and emotional support.

The service support cost is within 1.5 million won per year per person, and any resident of the province can apply for services in their city or county and receive them if they meet the conditions. Those with 120% or less of the median income receive free services, those exceeding 120% but below 150% of the median income receive 50% support of the usage amount, and those exceeding 150% use services with their own out-of-pocket expenses.

Those wishing to apply can visit the Administrative Welfare Center in their eup, myeon, or dong, or apply online through Gyeonggi Civil Affairs 24 and receive consultation. Inquiries are also available at the Gyeonggi Province Call Center 120 and the Emergency Welfare Hotline (010-4419-7722).

The Administrative Welfare Centers that receive crisis situation reports conduct on-site visits immediately in emergency cases or within 72 hours in general cases. A care plan is then established and services are requested from service providers.

Heo Seung-beom, Director of the Province’s Department of Welfare, stated, “Gyeonggi Province and its cities and counties are cooperating to smoothly carry out the Care for All project” and “We will do our best to ensure that ‘Care for All’ becomes a foundation for resolving care gaps for Gyeonggi Province residents by supplementing the existing care deficit.”