• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
• /
• v.19 no.1
• /
• pp.660-670
• /
• 2019

The purpose of this study is to elaborate the logical configuration of livelihood benefits for the institutionalized recipients under the renewed custom-tailored benefit system of National Basic Livelihood Security System(NBLSS) and to present appropriate level of benefits in terms of coherency of the system. In July 2015, the NBLSS was reformed to adopt a relative level of benefit standard for the general recipients according to certain amount of ratio of standard median income. However, the benefit for the institutionalized recipients was still based on the cost of necessities of absolute poverty level. It is at this juncture that this study suggests livelihood benefits for the institutionalized recipients reflect standard median income to comply with the reform of the NBLSS. To this end, this study firstly derives basic living items for the institutionalized recipients based on the literature review and FGI. Secondly, it calculates the reflection ratio of livelihood benefits utilizing Household Trend Survey's consumption data under 40%. Finally, it applies equivalence scale of households to adjust the under-represented scale for large size institutions. To continue the reflection ratio method, it is necessary to review the consumption trends and the stability of the reflection ratio periodically.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare
• /
• v.38
• /
• pp.7-32
• /
• 1999

Providing the income support program for people under the poverty level has been regarded as the basic obligational role of modern government. The target population of this program should include all the poor who are unable to maintain the minimum health and decency level with their own income. The minimum living cost, however, varies within a country because there are regional differences in consumer price and the mode of living. The current program does not count for the regional differences, leaving a significant portion of Seoul's poor needy people being ineligible for this public care. Recognizing these regional differences, this paper attempts to estimate the minimum living cost in Seoul area, comparing it to the national one. It employs the data and method that the Korea Institute of Health and Social Affairs adopted in its 1994 study, since it has been served as a basis of the current public assistance program. The minimum cost of living in Seoul is estimated to be \887,611 per month for a 4-person household. It is 1.33 times greater than the national monthly minimum of \666,684. Based upon the '94 urban household expenditure survey data, some 5.9 percent of Seoul's population, 636,132 people, are found to be under the Seoul's minimum living level. This number is 5.2 times greater than those 123,304 people who are eligible for the current public assistance program in Seoul.