Lawmaker pushes to extend energy welfare support to multi-child families using LPG, kerosene

Rep. Baek Seon-hee of the Rebuilding Korea Party introduced a bill Wednesday to expand energy welfare support to multi-child households, including those that rely on liquefied petroleum gas or kerosene.

Under the current system, multi-child families receive discounts on electricity, city gas and district heating bills. However, households in areas without city gas infrastructure that use LPG or kerosene are ineligible for the same benefits, creating a welfare gap based on the type of energy a family uses.

According to Baek, areas without city gas tend to have relatively underdeveloped living infrastructure, yet residents there have no choice but to use LPG or kerosene — both more expensive than city gas — leaving them with a heavier energy cost burden. Concerns have long been raised that multi-child families in such areas face a double disadvantage, being excluded from support programs despite their greater financial strain.

The proposed amendment would explicitly include multi-child households among the beneficiaries of energy welfare projects and energy voucher programs, establishing a legal basis for those families to receive government support regardless of whether they use city gas, LPG or kerosene.

The bill was prompted by complaints Baek heard during a visit to the Army's 15th Infantry Division in Cheorwon, Gangwon Province, in February, where she held a meeting with military families.

"It is not fair that multi-child families using city gas receive rate discounts while those using LPG or kerosene get nothing," Baek said. "Households that have no choice but to pay more for energy are being left out of support programs — that is reverse discrimination."

"This bill is a piece of livelihood legislation that began with a field meeting with military families in Cheorwon," she added. "I will do my best to close the blind spots in energy welfare and connect this effort to policy addressing the low birth rate."