South Korea's 'Just Give' Program, Which Provides Food and Daily Necessities to Vulnerable People Without Requiring Income

South Korea's 'Geunyang Dream' program, which provides food and daily necessities to vulnerable people without requiring income verification, will expand to all cities, counties, and districts nationwide starting this month. The Ministry of Health and Welfare announced on the 6th that the program, which supports food and essential goods without complex income proof procedures, will be rolled out across all 229 local jurisdictions. The expansion will bring 55 previously non-participating regions into the program sequentially.

Launched as a pilot in 57 locations in December last year, 'Geunyang Dream' provides food and daily necessities to residents facing economic hardship without first checking income or asset criteria, then offers counseling to repeat users and connects them with welfare services. The ministry said that over the past ten months, the program has lowered the threshold of welfare by not demanding any documentation in the face of hunger.