Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province announced Sunday that its payout rate for the high fuel price victim support fund had reached 98.4%.
The disbursement, aimed at easing the burden on Gangwon residents from high fuel and consumer prices, wrapped up July 3, with 1,162,845 people receiving benefits.
The provincial government and municipal authorities across the province used a range of promotional channels to boost the payout rate. An outreach program that sent staff directly to residents with limited access to information or difficulty traveling is also credited with significantly lifting the figure.
According to the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, sales in the Gangwon region rose 11 percent over the three weeks following the disbursement compared with the same period a year earlier. The Dongjoekbada Jungang Market in Donghae saw sales jump 114.8 percent, reflecting the fund's positive effect on spending at traditional markets and neighborhood commercial districts.
Appeals against payout decisions may be filed until 6 p.m. on July 17, a Friday. Eligible recipients can visit the community administrative welfare center in the district where they were registered as of the eligibility reference date — March 30, 2026 — or apply online through the People's Petition portal. Approved appeals will allow applicants to reapply and receive the support fund through the relevant procedures.
The fund must be spent by Aug. 31. Gangwon Province plans to run a high fuel price relief fund spending promotion week and launch a "Spend, Rest and Enjoy Locally" campaign from July through early August, timed to the summer vacation season, to actively encourage spending on tourism, dining and accommodation.
Municipal governments will also run their own spending promotion programs tied to local festivals and cultural events. As the Aug. 31 deadline approaches, cities and counties plan to send reminder notifications and hold last-push promotional events to encourage residents to use their remaining funds.
"With the combined first- and second-round payout rate reaching 98.4 percent, we expect the fund to make a significant contribution to revitalizing the local economy," said Shin Won-cheol, Gangwon Province's vice governor for economic affairs and head of the high fuel price relief fund disbursement team. "We hope residents will actively spend their funds locally before the Aug. 31 deadline, giving small business owners a boost and bringing more vitality to the regional economy."
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