"Can My Household Get It Too?"... Which Local Governments Are Offering 600,000 Won a Year to Young People and 100,000 Won to All Residents

Yangyang plans annual payments of up to 600,000 won for young people aged 12 to 18
Gangneung to provide all residents with 100,000 won in local currency

Local governments in Gangwon Province are rolling out a series of support measures to ease residents' cost-of-living burdens and stimulate local spending.

An employee sorts 50,000-won bills at Hana Bank's headquarters in Jung-gu, Seoul. Photo by Kang Jinhyung.

Yangyang County is pursuing an annual basic support payment of up to 600,000 won for young people aged 12 to 18, regardless of income level or school enrollment, while Gangneung City will provide 100,000 won per person to all residents through a living-cost relief payment.

No income or school enrollment requirements... Yangyang to provide young people with 600,000 won a year

According to Yangyang County on October 19, it is preparing to introduce a basic support payment for young people as one of the key projects under its ninth-term elected administration. The payments will go to young people aged 12 to 18 who are registered residents of Yangyang County as of the eligibility date. Anyone who meets the age and residency requirements will qualify, regardless of income level or school enrollment.

The county plans to provide 150,000 won per quarter, four times a year, for a maximum of 600,000 won per person in Yangyang County local currency. About 900 people are expected to qualify, with annual budget requirements estimated at 540 million won.

The county plans to prepare detailed implementation plans and take administrative steps, including enacting a relevant ordinance, with the goal of starting payments in 2027. The funding is expected to support young people's personal development and cultural and educational activities, including buying books, exploring career options, enjoying cultural activities, and participating in sports.

A table comparing the recipients and amounts of subsidies in Yangyang and Gangneung, Gangwon-do. Reporter Shin Eunseo

Yangyang County Governor Kim Jeongjung said, "We will provide support so young people can gain a range of experiences and prepare for their futures regardless of their families' financial circumstances. We will carefully prepare to implement the program so it can support young people's development and ease the burden on families raising them."

Gangneung to pay all residents... 100,000 won per person starting November 9

Gangneung City is also providing local-currency support to all residents. On October 19, the city announced its plan to provide living-cost relief payments of 100,000 won per person to residents in Gangneung Pay, the city's local currency, starting November 9.

Eligible recipients are residents registered in Gangneung City as of September 30, as well as permanent residents and marriage immigrants. A household of four can receive a total of 400,000 won.

Applications will be accepted from November 9 through December 31. Residents can apply through the Gangneung Pay app or at the community service center serving their address. Adults born on or before December 31, 2007, must apply individually as a general rule, while a household head listed on the resident registration must apply on behalf of minors.

During the first week of applications, a designated-day system based on the last digit of applicants' birth years will be used to reduce congestion. The city also plans to offer an on-site application service, with officials visiting older adults with limited mobility, people with disabilities, and other vulnerable residents to help them apply.

Gangneung Pay. Official Blog of Gangneung City Hall

The payment will be added to Gangneung Pay the day after an application is submitted and can be used through February 28, 2027. Any balance left unused after that date will automatically expire. The funds can be spent only at participating businesses in Gangneung City with annual sales of 3 billion won or less. When making a payment, the living-cost relief funds will be deducted before any existing Gangneung Pay balance.

Sokcho also paid 200,000 won to all residents... Support measures continue across Gangwon Province

Meanwhile, a similar support measure has already been implemented in Sokcho. Starting July 20, 2026, Sokcho City provided a 200,000-won living recovery payment to every resident. Those eligible were residents registered in Sokcho or with a registered place of stay there as of June 30, 2026. Marriage immigrants and permanent residents were also included.

The payments were issued as Sokcho Love Gift Certificates or prepaid cards. More than 49,000 people received the funds in the first week, bringing the distribution rate above 60%. When applications closed on September 11, 2026, 76,446 of the 79,238 eligible people, or 96.5%, had received the payment.

While the support measures in Yangyang County, Gangneung City, and Sokcho City differ in their target recipients and objectives, they share a common feature: using local currency, local gift certificates, or prepaid cards to direct spending to local businesses. The aim is to ease the financial burden on residents and households with young people while channeling the funds into local spending and supporting small businesses and neighborhood commercial districts.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.