As fuel prices continue to soar due to the ongoing Middle East conflict, South Korea is rolling out billions in cash support to help struggling households cope with the economic pressure.

CBI News reports that South Korea has announced a major cash relief programme targeting nearly 36 million people as the country battles rising fuel costs linked to the war in the Middle East.

The National Assembly on Monday approved a 26.2 trillion-won ($17.8 billion) supplementary budget aimed at cushioning the economic impact of the crisis. A key part of the package includes a second round of direct cash assistance for the bottom 70% of income earners.

Under the new plan, eligible residents in the Seoul metropolitan area will receive 100,000 won, while citizens living in regions facing population decline could get up to 250,000 won each.

The government had earlier launched a first phase of support in April, providing up to 600,000 won to low-income households and vulnerable groups.

Eligibility for the latest payment will be determined using national health insurance contributions recorded in March. Single-person households paying 130,000 won or less in insurance premiums — roughly those earning 43.4 million won annually or below — are expected to qualify.

However, households with assets exceeding 1.2 billion won in 2025 or those earning more than 20 million won in financial income last year will be excluded.

Applications for the support fund open next Monday and will run through July 3. Beneficiaries can receive the money through debit or credit cards, prepaid cards, or local currency vouchers.

The funds must be spent before August 31 and can only be used at small local businesses with annual sales below 3 billion won.

South Korea’s Interior Minister, Yun Ho-jung, said the relief package is expected to ease the burden of high oil prices and help revive weak consumer spending.

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