Private donations reach 13.5 billion won; outreach service to launch for homebound and remote residents

Health and Welfare Minister Jeong Eun-kyeong (front row, second from left) and Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chairman Chey Tae-won tour a site participating in the Geunyangdeurim program at Naraewul Community Welfare Center in Dongtan-gu, Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province, on July 20. [Yonhap]
Health and Welfare Minister Jeong Eun-kyeong (front row, second from left) and Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chairman Chey Tae-won tour a site participating in the Geunyangdeurim program at Naraewul Community Welfare Center in Dongtan-gu, Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province, on July 20. [Yonhap]

A man in his 30s, identified only as A, had returned to a Geunyangdeurim center not long after his last visit to pick up food. Struggling with depression and severe financial hardship, he had been locked out of welfare benefits because official records showed him living with his father — placing him just above the eligibility threshold. But staff at the center handed over food without demanding documentation and connected him to a welfare counselor. Local authorities then helped him apply for basic livelihood benefits and linked him to a mental health center and a food bank, allowing him to finally receive welfare payments.

The Ministry of Health and Welfare said Sunday it will expand the Geunyangdeurim program — which provides food and daily necessities without requiring proof of income — to every city, county and district in the country this month.

The expansion will bring in 55 municipalities that have not yet joined the program. With Ulleung-gun in North Gyeongsang Province now set to participate, the service will be available in every part of the country.

The ministry will also formally launch an outreach version of the program for people who have difficulty visiting a center in person — including elderly and disabled residents and those living in remote island and rural areas. The program operates under three models: a community welfare linkage model, a local resource linkage model and a public institution partnership model.

Private-sector participation has been growing steadily, driven by broad support for the program's mission.

Shinhan Financial Group pledged a total of 10 billion won ($7.36 million) over three years from 2025 to 2027. The Export-Import Bank of Korea, Lotte Holdings, Korea Cheongkwa Co. and chambers of commerce across the country have also joined, bringing cumulative private donations to 13.5 billion won.

Information on the location and operating hours of local program sites can be found by searching for "Geunyangdeurim" on major web portals or through the ministry's official website and the national food bank network.

"Over the past 10 months, the program has lowered the barrier to welfare by asking for no proof of need in the face of hunger," Health and Welfare Minister Jeong Eun-kyeong said. "Now that a support corner will be set up in every city, county and district across the country, we will work with local governments and the private sector to build a tighter support network so we can reach even one more person who has fallen through the cracks and provide help quickly."

The program launched in December last year as a pilot at 57 locations nationwide under a "support first, paperwork later" approach and has since expanded to 175 municipalities. About 210,000 people have used the service so far, of whom 44,712 received welfare counseling and 4,437 were connected to formal welfare protections such as basic livelihood benefits and emergency welfare support.


thlee@heraldcorp.com