The Seoul Metropolitan Government (SMG) will establish a stronger and tighter social safety net to support the disadvantaged, including children receiving out-of-home care services, children lacking food security, youths leaving foster care, and low-income single-parent families, as part of the city’s social inclusion policies initiated by Mayor Oh Se-hoon.

The city plans to reach out and provide hands-on support according to the situation of each person in the welfare blind spot due to the prolonged recession and high inflation. First, the city will double the meal and allowance money compared to the previous year so that children receiving out-of-home care services can grow healthy both physically and psychological through financial and emotional support. Second, the city will expand the eligibility of support for children lacking food security from those of 50% median income to those of 60% with the recent increase of lunch fee.

The city plans to provide emotional support and living assistance to youths leaving foster care to be self-reliant at a relatively young age. First, the city will conduct a survey to check on their path to self-reliance, and then check their living conditions and needs for practical assistance according to their answers.

The city plans to expand and strengthen support for vulnerable households. First, the city will expand the scope of its domestic service support, which is particularly popular among single-parent households. Second, the support target for childrearing expenses will also be expanded to those of 60% median income. Also, the city will provide support to teen parents who are planning to raise their children while studying and finding jobs with further plans to provide supportive measures to reduce the social stigma.

Seoul plans to continue to find blind spots to further strengthen and provide practical and customized support for disadvantaged children, youths and households to support their livelihood, especially with the recent spike of living expenses.