Article 1 (Purpose)

Article 2 (Definitions) 1. “Seoul-type hospitalization living expenses support” refers to a system that provides financial support to citizens with earned or business income to maintain a minimum standard of living when the loss of income that occurs for hospitalization or outpatient treatment or examination at a medical institution due to a mental or physical illness or injury threatens their livelihood.
2. “Medical institution” refers to a medical institution excluding midwifery clinics and nursing hospitals among the medical institutions pursuant to Article 3 of the Medical Service Act.
3. “Hospitalization” refers to hospitalization falling under Article 41, Paragraph 1, subparagraph 5 of the National Health Insurance Act.
4. “Outpatient treatment” refers to treatment received before and after hospitalization, linked to hospitalization under subparagraph 3.
5. “Examination” refers to a general health examination pursuant to Article 52, Paragraph 2, subparagraph 1 of the National Health Insurance Act.

Article 3 (Duties of the Mayor) (1) The Seoul Metropolitan City Mayor (hereinafter referred to as the “Mayor”) shall establish and implement policies to ensure that citizens with earned income or business income can maintain a minimum quality of life even when they are unable to work due to treatment or examination of illness or injury.
(2) In order to select recipients of Seoul-type hospitalization living expenses support, the Mayor shall investigate whether income and assets are appropriate in accordance with the provisions of this Ordinance. <Amended on Oct. 4, 2023>
(3) The Mayor shall ensure that the Seoul-type hospitalization living expenses support is linked to the system presented in each subparagraph of Article 3 of the Framework Act on Social Security. <Amended on Oct. 4, 2023>

Article 4 (Eligible Recipients, Support Period, Support Details, Etc.) (1) The criteria for eligibility for Seoul-type hospitalization living expense support and the income security standard amount are as follows. <Amended on Oct. 4, 2023>
1. Eligible applicants must be Seoul citizens who are locally insured persons enrolled in the National Health Insurance Service, have earned or business income, and whose income is 100% or less of the median income standard determined and announced by the Minister of Health and Welfare.
2. The income security standard amount is based on the living wage standard determined and announced by the Mayor pursuant to Article 7 of the Seoul Metropolitan Government Ordinance on Living Wage. In this case, eight (8) hours is considered as the criterion for one (1) day.
(2) The period of support for living expenses for hospitalization in Seoul shall be no more than thirteen (13) days per person per year, and shall not exceed the maximum number of days for each of the following reasons for support. However, in the case of a medical examination, one (1) additional day may be granted. <Amended on Oct. 4, 2023>
1. Number of days of hospitalization in a medical institution: thirteen (13) days
2. Three (3) days of outpatient treatment pursuant to inpatient treatment in subparagraph 1
(3) Deleted <Oct. 4, 2023>

Article 5 (Application for Assistance and Assistance Decision) (1) Anyone who wishes to apply for the Seoul-type hospitalization living expenses support pursuant to Article 4 must submit an application to the head of either the local community center or public health center in charge of their address. <Amended on Sep. 30, 2021, Oct. 4, 2023>
(2) The head of the public health center in charge of the address of the applicant shall review the submitted application for support and utilize the joint use of administrative information pursuant to Article 36, Paragraph 1 of the Electronic Government Act to examine qualification requirements, etc. and decide whether to grant support.
(3) When an applicant submits an application under Paragraph 1 for the joint use of administrative information under Paragraph 2, they must give prior consent to the joint use of administrative information. However, if prior consent is not obtained, the applicant must directly attach and submit the following documents.
1. Certified copy or extract of resident registration card (including address history)
2. Confirmation of acquisition or loss of eligibility for health insurance and notification of health checkup results
3. Employment insurance daily work record
4. Business operator certificate of registration, proof of business suspension/closure
5. Deposit account confirmation data

Article 6 (Objection) (1) If the applicant has an objection to the support decision under Article 5, they may file a written objection to the head of the public health center in charge of the address within sixty (60) days from the date of receiving the decision notification. <Amended on Sep. 30, 2021>
(2) The head of the public health center who receives an objection pursuant to Paragraph 1 shall confirm and review the selection and support criteria, etc., decide whether to accept the objection and notify the applicant of the result within ten (10) days from the date of receiving the objection. However, if it is impossible to decide whether to accept or reject the application within the specified period due to unavoidable reasons, the period may be extended by up to ten (10) days starting from the day following the expiration date, and the reason for the extension must be notified to the applicant. <Amended on Sep. 30, 2021>
(3) If it is difficult for the head of the public health center to directly decide whether to accept or not, they may request the mayor to attach a review opinion. <Newly established on Sep. 30, 2021>
(4) When the Mayor receives the review opinion pursuant to Paragraph 3, they shall decide whether to accept the objection after consulting with experts and notify the director of the relevant public health center of the result without delay. <Amended on Sep. 30, 2021>

Article 7 (Establishment and Function of the Seoul-Type Hospitalization Living Expenses Support Advisory Committee) 1. Deliberation of the support plan pursuant to Article 4
2. Matters concerning the development and amendment of guidelines for support of living expenses for Seoul-type hospitalization
3. Consultation on the objection to the Seoul-type hospitalization living expenses support requested by the head of the public health center, and the review opinion
4. Other matters deemed necessary for coordinating and operating the Seoul-type hospitalization living expenses support project
[Title amended on Oct. 4, 2023]

Article 8 (Organization of the Committee) (1) The Committee shall be composed of no more than twenty (20) members, including one (1) Chairperson and one (1) Vice Chairperson.
(2) The Chairperson and Vice Chairperson shall be elected from among the members.
(3) The Committee members shall be either appointed or commissioned by the Mayor from among persons that fall under any of the following subparagraphs. <Amended on Dec. 30, 2022, May 20, 2024>
1. Council members recommended by the Seoul Metropolitan Council
2. Persons with extensive knowledge and experience in related fields such as social welfare, health care, and labor
3. Director of the Bureau of Labor and Civil Affairs
(4) In the case of appointed members, pursuant to the main text of Article 21, Paragraph 2 of the Framework Act on Gender Equality, a specific gender must not exceed six-tenths (6/10) of the number of appointed members. However, this does not apply if it is determined that there are unavoidable reasons, such as a shortage of specialized personnel of a specific gender in the relevant field pursuant to the same paragraph, and a resolution is passed by the Gender Equality Working Committee.
(5) An administrative secretary shall be appointed to handle the affairs of the Committee, and the secretary shall be the labor policy officer. <Amended on Jul. 24, 2023>
(6) The Committee is formed when an agenda item arises and is automatically dissolved after deliberation and resolution. <Newly established on Jul. 24, 2023>

Article 9 (Exclusion, Recusal, and Abdication of Members) (1) A Committee member under Article 8 shall be excluded from the Committee deliberations and resolutions in the following cases. <Amended on Sep. 30, 2021>
1. Where the member or their spouse or ex-spouse becomes a party to the relevant matter or is a joint holder of rights or liabilities with the party to the relevant matter
2. If the member is or was a relative of a party to the agenda in question
3. If a member testifies, makes a statement, advises, researches, provides services, or makes an appraisal on the relevant agenda item
4. If a member or a corporation to which the member belongs is or was an agent of a party to the agenda in question
(2) Where any member falls under any of the causes for exclusion under Paragraph 1 above, or it is difficult to expect that such member would deliberate and resolve in a fair way, a party may file a request for recusal with the Committee, and the Committee shall determine whether or not to recuse such member from the resolution. In such cases, the member subject to the request for recusal shall not participate in the resolution.
(3) If a member falls under any of the grounds for disqualification under each subparagraph of Paragraph 1, they must voluntarily refrain from deliberation and voting on the relevant agenda item.
[Moved from Article 11, Previous Article 9 deleted <Jul. 24, 2023>]

Article 10 (Duties of the Chairperson, Etc.) (1) The Chairperson shall represent the Committee and oversee the affairs of the Committee.
(2) The Vice-Chairperson shall assist the Chairperson, and when the Chairperson is unable to perform their duties due to unavoidable circumstances, the Vice-Chairperson shall act on their behalf. When both the Chairperson and the Vice-Chairperson are unable to perform their duties due to unavoidable circumstances, a member designated in advance by the Chairperson acts on their behalf.
[Moved from Article 12, Previous Article 10 deleted <Jul. 24, 2023>]

Article 11 (Meetings of the Committee) (1) Deleted <Jul. 24, 2023>
(2) Deleted <Jul. 24, 2023>
(3) The Committee meetings shall begin when a majority of registered members are present and resolved by the vote of a majority of the members present.
[Moved from Article 13, Previous Article 11 moved to Article 9 <Jul. 24, 2023>]

Article 12 (Meeting Record) (1) The Mayor shall record and keep a meeting record, and shall allow the relevant members to review and sign the meeting record.
(2) Meeting records prepared pursuant to Paragraph 1 shall be made public when requested by the Seoul Metropolitan Council or when requested by a legitimate petitioner. However, cases where information is stipulated as confidential in laws and regulations are excluded.
[Article Newly Inserted on Sep. 30, 2021]
[Moved from Article 14, Previous Article 12 moved to Article 10 <Jul. 24, 2023>]

Article 13 (Detailed Operating Rules of the Committee) [Moved from Article 15, Previous Article 13 moved to Article 11 <Jul. 24, 2023>]

Article 14 (Stipends, Etc.) [Article Newly Inserted on Sep. 30, 2021]
[Moved from Article 16, Previous Article 14 moved to Article 12 <Jul. 24, 2023>]

Article 15 (Enforcement Rule) [Moved from Article 17, Previous Article 15 moved to Article 13 <Jul. 24, 2023>]

Addendum (Seoul Metropolitan Government Ordinance on the Establishment of Administrative Organizations) <No. 9289, May 20, 2024>
Article 1 (Enforcement Date) This Ordinance shall be enforced on Jul. 1, 2024.
Article 2 (Revision of Other Ordinances) (1) to (15) Omitted
(16) The Seoul Metropolitan Government Ordinance on Support for Living Expenses for Seoul-type Hospitalization is amended as follows.
In Article 8, Paragraph 3, Item 3, “Labor, Fairness, and Coexistence Policy Director” is changed to “Director of the Bureau of Labor and Civil Affairs.”
(17) through (42) Omitted