Mapo-gu will provide a special cooling cost subsidy of 50,000 won ($35) per household to vulnerable residents struggling with air-conditioning bills during the ongoing heat wave, district mayor Yoo Dong-gyun announced.
With scorching temperatures persisting since July and intense heat continuing into early August, the district said the support is intended to help low-income households get through the summer safely.
Eligible recipients are households registered in Mapo-gu as of Friday that receive basic livelihood benefits or fall under the near-poverty threshold — approximately 11,000 households in total.
No application is required. The district will compile a list of eligible households through neighborhood community centers and disburse the funds directly to each household head's registered bank account on Aug. 25.
Households without a registered account, or those using seizure-protected accounts that cannot receive direct deposits, will receive the payment in cash after a verification process.
The total cost of the cooling support program is approximately 550 million won, funded by the Seoul Metropolitan Government.
The district said it will closely monitor the disbursement process to ensure that vulnerable residents most affected by the heat wave receive their payments without issue.
"When the burden of cooling costs is added on top of the relentless heat, summer can become even harder for vulnerable residents," Yoo said. "I hope this support provides at least some relief from the heat, and we will look after our residents carefully so that no one in the district is left to suffer through this heat wave alone."
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