Korea set to roll out 2nd batch of cash aid amid Mideast crisis

Korea on Monday began to receive applications for a second round of cash assistance from the bottom 70 percent of income earners in a bid to help ease financial strain from rising fuel prices amid the Middle East conflict. The government aims to provide the support to about 36 million people, with eligible individuals in the broader Seoul area receiving 100,000 won ($66.80), while those in areas with declining populations may receive up to 250,000 won. Last month, the National Assembly approved a 26.2 trillion-won extra budget bill to address the economic fallout from the Middle East conflict, which includes the introduction of the cash assistance plan. Under the first program launched in April, the government handed out up to 600,000 won per person to recipients of basic livelihood security and other vulnerable groups. Eligibility for the second round of assistance will be determined by a household's national health insurance payment in March. For single-person households, those who paid 130,000 won or less will be eligible. That translates to an annual income of about 43.4 million or le