Seoul has decided to give coronavirus stimulus checks to foreign residents in the capital city, expanding the eligibility criteria beyond Korean nationals.

The move comes after the National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRC) in May filed a complaint against Seoul and Gyeonggi Province, saying that shutting out documented foreign workers from the relief cash “infringes on their right to equality.”

The Seoul Metropolitan Council on Tuesday passed its third extra bill that includes an additional 50-billion-won budget for relief funds. The bill does not specify the funding for foreigners, but given that Seoul has about 300,000 foreign residents, the amount is expected to be about 33 billion won ($27.5 million).

Seoul plans to give out 300,000 won to 500,000 won to foreign households earning less than the median income, the same standard applied to Korean nationals. The monthly median income is 1.76 million won for individuals and 2.99 million won for couples.

In March, Seoul started doling out one-time cash payments of a total of 549 billion won to Korean households in the city. The payout had included foreigners married to Korean citizens and foreign refugees.

Gyeonggi Province, which finalized a stimulus payout program for Korean residents in March, said the plan to include foreigners is still under review. In April, the province decided to limit the eligibility of foreign beneficiaries to marriage immigrants and green card holders.

In May, Korea distributed disaster relief money to all Korean households regardless of income.

By Lee Yoon-sik and Kim Hyo-jin

[ⓒ Pulse by Maeil Business Newspaper & mk.co.kr, All rights reserved]