Korea Policy Now

Seoul Expands Climate Companion Card: Discounts for Multi-Child Families and Youth, New Han River Bus Pass Starting September 14, Seoul Metropolitan Government will introduce new discount benefits for multi-child families and teenagers under the Climate Companion Card program, while also launching a new pass that allows unlimited rides on the Han River Bus scheduled to open on September 18. The Climate Companion Card is a unified transit pass that allows unlimited rides on subways and buses in Seoul for 30 days at a fixed price. With the latest changes, families and students will enjoy substantial savings and improved mobility options. 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Multi-Child Family Discounts Families with 2 children: Public transport-only pass, 55,000 KRW for 30 days Families with 3 or more children: Public transport-only pass, 45,000 KRW for 30 days This means that families with three or more children can ride the subway and buses unlimited for just 45,000 KRW a month, sig...

Nighttime Emergency and Infant Care Allowances: Expanded Childcare Support in 2026 The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family has announced its 2026 budget plan , which introduces nighttime emergency care allowances and infant care allowances , expands childcare subsidies, and strengthens financial and welfare support for single-parent families and vulnerable youth. The budget totals 1.9866 trillion won, marking an 11.8% increase compared to this year. The key goals are to reduce childcare blind spots , enhance youth support , and promote a safe and gender-equal society . 👶 Expanded Childcare Services and Family Support Starting next year, the income threshold for childcare subsidies will be relaxed from 200% of median income to 250% of median income , increasing the number of supported households from 120,000 to 126,000. Tailored support will also be expanded for working parents, single-parent households, and multi-generational families. Introduction of nighttime emer...

The fastest way to get money back on medical bills in Korea is the out-of-pocket maximum refund. For 2023 services, the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) will refund a total of KRW 2.792 trillion to 2,135,776 members—an average of about KRW 1.31 million per person . Payout procedures begin on August 28 after NHIS finalized each person’s annual cap. This guide focuses on one thing: how to make sure you get your refund —who qualifies, how much, and how to apply right now. Refund at a glance: what it is, who gets it What’s refunded? If your annual covered out-of-pocket payments (patient’s share for NHI-covered services) exceed your personal cap , NHIS refunds 100% of the excess. The 2024 cap range (used to set personal caps) is KRW 870,000–10,500,000 depending on income tier. Who’s getting paid for 2023? 2,135,776 members will receive refunds totaling KRW 2.792 trillion (avg. KRW 1.31 million ). Who benefits most? The bottom 50% by income account fo...

Korea’s central government has unveiled the 2025 Local Tax Reform Plan to channel resources and people back into the regions. The headline: stronger population-declining areas tax relief that outperforms benefits in non-capital regions and the Seoul metro. In practice, incentives will be tiered— population-declining areas > non-capital regions > capital area —and will touch housing, business investment, jobs and everyday life. If you plan to start a business, purchase a home, clear a vacant house, or expand hiring outside the capital, this guide breaks down what the new population-declining areas tax relief means for you and how to qualify. 1) National Balanced Development: What’s New in 2025 Corporate & employment New local corporate income tax credit when firms in population-declining areas hire local residents. Long-service allowance excluded from the employee-based resident tax base to curb skilled-worker turnover. 50% acquisition tax reduction f...

Korea is rolling out a nationwide disaster information 3-tier delivery network that links local governments → village-level systems → vulnerable groups into one layered pipeline. The goal is simple: make sure every resident receives clear, actionable alerts—without duplication or delay. In life-threatening events like extreme rainfall, wildfires, or evacuation orders, phones will sound at maximum device volume (≈40 dB or higher) via an emergency alert; for seniors and people with disabilities, trained helpers will physically visit to deliver information and support evacuation. Text alerts will be strictly tiered by risk, move from 90 to 157 characters over time, adopt standardized templates that say “when/where/how,” and reduce spam through de-duplication and future geofencing . This guide translates the new disaster information 3-tier delivery network into what you need to set up today—settings, checklists, scenarios, FAQs, and a call to ...

Korea’s My Health Records app is now linked with the nationwide “Health Information Highway” platform and all 47 tertiary hospitals . That means you can view your own medical history—without paper printouts or CDs—right on your phone and reuse it at future appointments. As of now, a total of 1,264 medical institutions participate (47 tertiary hospitals, 53 general hospitals, and 1,164 clinics/hospitals). This guide explains what the My Health Records app does, how to install and verify your identity, smart ways to use it, privacy protections, and a quick FAQ. 1) What is the Health Information Highway? It’s a national intermediary platform that, with your consent, connects data held by public agencies (NHIS, HIRA, KDCA, etc.) and by participating hospitals/clinics so you can view, store, and transmit your records in the My Health Records app . The flow is: identity verification → consent → select hospital(s) → fetch data. 2) What you can do with the My Health Records...

Beginning September 1 , airlines in Korea will roll out upgraded power bank cabin safety measures. Plastic pouches once handed out to prevent short circuits will be replaced with insulating tape , and every Korean carrier will stock at least two Fire Containment Bags (FCBs) on board to isolate overheating devices after initial fire knockdown. Overhead bins will gain thermo-sensitive stickers that change color when temperatures rise, helping crews and passengers detect trouble sooner. Airlines will also expand hands-on fire drills (including live extinguisher practice) and deliver clearer, repeated announcements from check-in to takeoff. This guide distills what changes on Sept 1, how to prepare before you fly, and practical FAQs so you can travel smarter under the new power bank cabin safety rules. What’s Changing — Quick Overview 1) Plastic pouch → Insulating tape To reduce waste and improve effectiveness, airlines will stop handing out plastic pouches. Instead, staff at...

Starting September 1 , Korea’s driver’s license verification service will be upgraded. Until now, online/offline checks only compared the printed data on a license (license number, name, date of birth, etc.) with the original issuance record and returned “match.” From September, the system will also confirm whether the renewal/aptitude-check period has expired . In short, if your renewal window has passed, your license may be rejected for identity verification even when the printed data still matches. Police clarified this is not a cancellation of the license itself—it’s a tighter validity gate for using a license as an ID. Expect effects across e-commerce real-name checks, telecom/finance remote onboarding, and building access registrations that rely on driver’s license verification . What Changes — From “Data Match” to “Match + Validity” The upgraded driver’s license verification will check (1) data match and (2) whether the renewal period has lapsed . If the period is ...

Korea’s Construction Workers Mutual Aid Association has rolled out an expanded construction worker education subsidy for the fall semester. Starting on the 25th , construction workers can apply on a first-come, first-served basis for cash support toward their children’s school needs. The headline change: elementary grades 2–6 now qualify— 2,800 students will each receive KRW 150,000 . The separate benefit for 1st graders — KRW 200,000 for 1,400 students —continues unchanged. Because the budget is finite (about KRW 4.2 billion in total), acting early is essential. This all-in guide explains who qualifies, how to apply via mobile/PC/branch, what documents to prepare, common pitfalls, and practical tips to stretch the construction worker education subsidy for maximum learning impact. What’s New — Scope & Budget at a Glance Expanded coverage: Elementary grades 2–6 now included — 2,800 beneficiaries at KRW 150,000 each. Continuing benefit: Elementary 1st graders ...