From the 11th of next month, only households below the median income will receive a total of support for isolation subsidies.

Starting from the 11th of next month, households above the median income will not be able to receive living support even if they are quarantined due to COVID-19.

All small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) eligible for paid vacation support will be reduced to those with less than 30 employees.

At a meeting of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters on the 24th, the government reported on a plan to reorganize the financial support system related to the COVID-19 quarantine.

The median income, which determines whether or not to receive the quarantine living subsidy after the reform, refers to the income of the household in the exact middle when all households in Korea are lined up in order of income. Based on a four-person household, the monthly insurance premium is expected to be around 180,000 won.

Although the government’s subsidy for paid vacation pay will also be reduced, the government explained that 75.3% of all SME workers will be included in the scope of support. Son Young-rae, head of the social strategy division at the Central Accident Resolving Headquarters, said, “We will work together to promote and recommend that companies with 30 or more employees continue to take paid leave.”

Patients who are self-isolating will also pay for over-the-counter medications and home treatment expenses. However, the government will continue to subsidize the cost of oral COVID-19 treatments, injections, and inpatient treatment, including Paxrovid.

Director Sohn explained the reason for the reform, saying, “It is an inevitable adjustment to make the financial capacity a little more stable and to increase the efficiency of financial support a little bit more in preparation for a relapse in the second half of the year.”

By Han Kyung-woo, reporter at Hankyung.com case@hankyung.com

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