Has the 4th Livelihood Support Payment Before Chuseok Been Confirmed? How to Apply

With the burden of rising prices continuing, many people are waiting for news of additional support ahead of the Chuseok holiday. In particular, as the phrase “4th Livelihood Support” has spread on social media, many are wondering whether the same amount will be paid to everyone nationwide and when applications will open.

To start with the conclusion, the currently discussed 4th Livelihood Support Payment is closer to a collective term for local support programs independently created by various local governments than a single program in which the central government makes a uniform payment to everyone nationwide.

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4th Livelihood Support Payment—Has It Really Been Confirmed?

There are regions where actual payments have been confirmed.

• Most notably, Sokcho, Gangwon Province, is paying 200,000 won per person to residents registered as of June 30, 2026, with applications accepted through September 11. The payment can be received in the form of a mobile local gift certificate or a prepaid card.

• Yeongdong County, North Chungcheong Province, has also confirmed a plan to pay 300,000 won per person before the Chuseok holiday. The program is for county residents who have maintained their registered address from July 1 through the application date, and payment will be made using the local currency.

Therefore, rather than assuming that the 4th Livelihood Support Payment will be distributed uniformly nationwide, it is important to check whether a separate program is available in your area.

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Could Your Region Receive It Too? Checking Payment Availability by Region

The name of the program varies somewhat from one region to another. Different terms, such as Livelihood Recovery Support Payment and Livelihood Stabilization Support Payment, can make it confusing to determine whether they refer to programs of the same nature.

While some areas, such as Sokcho, are already accepting applications, other local governments are preparing budgets or undergoing council review with the goal of making payments before Chuseok. Yeongdong County finalized the relevant funding through a supplementary budget in July and announced plans to make payments in September.

Conversely, not all regional information circulating online has been confirmed. For example, the 2026 support program identified in Uiryeong County is a separate High-Fuel-Price Damage Support Payment program for which applications began in April. Therefore, treating it as the same program as the 4th Livelihood Support Payment may cause confusion.

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Who Is Eligible, How Much Is the Payment, and When Is the Application Period?

Payment amounts vary significantly by region. They range from 100,000 won to several hundred thousand won, and conditions such as the resident registration reference date and the required period of residence may also differ.

Applications are often accepted both online and in person. In Sokcho, online applications can be submitted through a local gift certificate app using a mobile phone registered in the applicant’s name. Those who have difficulty applying online can visit the community service center in their district of residence and apply for a prepaid card. Applications through a representative may also be possible if certain conditions are met.

Some cases, such as Yeongdong County, require registration for the local currency. If you are confirmed as an eligible recipient, it may therefore be helpful to prepare in advance the payment method used by the relevant local government.

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Distinguishing Confirmed Support Payments from Information That Is Not Yet Finalized

The most important point to be aware of regarding information about this 4th Livelihood Support Payment is the distinction between what has been “confirmed” and what is merely “underway.”

If the local government’s website has announced the payment amount, eligibility, and application period, you can prepare with relative certainty. However, if the program is still at the stage of budget preparation or ordinance review, the schedule may change.

In addition, amounts received through local gift certificates or prepaid cards often have designated places of use and expiration dates. Sokcho, for example, has stated that the payment may be used through November 3, so it is necessary to check the expiration date after receiving it.

Ultimately, if you are waiting for the 4th Livelihood Support Payment, rather than checking only whether there will be a nationwide payment, it is advisable to review both the official website of the city, county, or district where you are registered as a resident and announcements from the local administrative welfare center.

At present, regional differences are too significant to interpret the name “4th Livelihood Support Payment” alone as meaning a nationwide payment to everyone. The most important first step in determining whether you can receive the benefit before Chuseok is to confirm whether the program has actually been finalized in your area of residence.

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