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Seoul hospital living-cost support payments rise 20% in first eight months
In short
Seoul city government said payments under its “Seoul-type hospital living expenses” programme reached 4,375 cases in January–August 2026, up 19.7% from a year earlier, with the amount paid rising 27.7% to 3.23 billion won. Applications rose 21.1% to 5,132. The city also raised the daily support amount and eased eligibility rules this year, and said it is expanding outreach so workers do not miss the benefit.
Why it matters
The figures indicate growing use of a municipal income-gap scheme aimed at self-employed, freelance, daily and mobile workers who have no paid sick leave. The city has widened eligibility and raised the daily amount, which affects how much support such workers can receive for hospital stays and state health check-ups.
Key facts
- Seoul said January–August payment cases under the Seoul-type hospital living expenses programme totalled 4,375, up 19.7% from 3,654 a year earlier. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
- Applications in the same period totalled 5,132, up 21.1% from 4,237 a year earlier. [ 3 , 4 ]
- The amount paid rose 27.7% year on year to 3.23148 billion won. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
- The programme was introduced by Seoul in 2019, described by the city as the first of its kind in the country. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
- Cumulative support from 2019 through the end of August 2026 reached 40,950 cases and 24.66 billion won. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
- The daily support amount was raised from 94,230 won to 96,960 won, with a maximum of 14 days and 1,357,440 won per year. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
- From March this year the asset threshold was eased from 350 million won or less to 400 million won or less. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
- The city said it sent guidance mail to about 73,000 people with hospital or check-up records, in cooperation with the National Health Insurance Service. [ 1 , 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- January–August payment cases rose 19.7% to 4,375 and the amount paid rose 27.7% to 3.23148 billion won. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
- Applications rose 21.1% to 5,132 from 4,237 a year earlier. [ 3 , 4 ]
- The programme was introduced in 2019 for one-person businesses, freelancers, daily and mobile workers who cannot easily use paid sick leave. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
- The daily support amount was raised to 96,960 won, and support can reach 14 days and 1,357,440 won a year. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
- From March the asset criterion was eased to 400 million won or less and the income recognition period was expanded. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
- Park Kyung-hwan, director of the Seoul city livelihood and labour bureau, said the programme is a living safety net so that workers do not give up treatment over livelihood worries. [ 3 , 4 ]
Still unclear
- How many of the 5,132 applications were rejected, and on what grounds, was not stated. No document gives rejection figures or reasons.
- One of the business reports on the programme was available only as a headline, so its figures could not be checked against the article text. The feed summary carried no matching body text for that report.
What local media are saying
Business mediaBusiness outlets led with the 20% rise in payments and reported the application, payment and amount figures, the 2019 launch, annual and cumulative totals, this year's higher daily amount and eased criteria, and outreach through hospitals, underground shopping arcades and manpower offices. One carried an AI chatbot detail and the bureau director's comment.
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Official sourcesThe official wire service reported Seoul city's announcement in a compact release, repeating the application and payment figures, the programme's purpose and 2019 launch, the raised daily amount and eased asset rule, and the director's quoted remarks.
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