Korea Social Security Information Service launches 2026 Welfare Membership essay contest Monday; 31 winners to be recognized
The Korea Social Security Information Service announced Monday it will hold the "2026 Personalized Benefit Guidance (Welfare Membership) Essay Contest" from Monday through Nov. 20.
Held for the second consecutive year, the contest invites participants to share how they discovered welfare services they had not previously known about through the Welfare Membership program and how receiving that support changed their daily lives.
The theme is "Welfare found through Welfare Membership — tell us your story." Anyone who has received welfare services through a Welfare Membership referral — either personally or as a household member — is eligible to enter.
Submissions are particularly encouraged on topics such as welfare services newly discovered after joining the program, the process of applying for and receiving a referred service, and changes felt in everyday life after receiving support.
To apply, participants can download the application form and essay template from the notice board on the Korea Social Security Information Service website, fill them out, and submit them by email to the contest secretariat. Essays must be at least 500 characters and no longer than two A4 pages.
Submitted entries will first be screened for eligibility based on Welfare Membership enrollment and referral history, then evaluated by a panel of experts on four criteria: authenticity and specificity, relevance to the theme, public resonance, and composition and clarity of expression.
The Korea Social Security Information Service plans to turn selected entries into promotional content, including card-format news posts.
"For some people, a single piece of guidance can be the strength that gets them through a difficult day and the spark that helps them find new hope," said Korea Social Security Information Service President Kim Hyun-jun. "Through this contest, we hope to share the warm changes that Welfare Membership has brought to people's lives and ensure that more citizens can access the welfare support they need without missing out."
thlee@heraldcorp.com
