South Korea Raises Welfare Thresholds by a Record 6.7%: Who Benefits in 2027?
South Korea will significantly expand its welfare eligibility thresholds in 2027, potentially allowing more low-income households to qualify for government support. AI-generated image The country’s standard median income will increase by 6.7% , the largest annual rise since the current system was introduced in 2015. For a four-person household, the monthly standard median income will rise from 6,494,738 won in 2026 to 6,929,885 won in 2027 . This figure is important because South Korea uses the standard median income to determine eligibility for dozens of welfare programs, including livelihood, medical, housing and education benefits. What Is South Korea’s Standard Median Income? The standard median income is a government-calculated benchmark based on the income level of the middle household when all households are ranked from lowest to highest income. It is not simply the average household income. Instead, the government adjusts the median income according to household si...