Fifth 2026 survey to find people in welfare blind spots — October 19 to December 11, about 190,000 people in at-risk households
Source material is a Korean government announcement (in Korean).
Korea's Ministry of Health and Welfare is surveying about 190,000 people, including financially at-risk households, households with disabilities and energy-vulnerable households in winter, to identify welfare blind spots over eight weeks from October 19 to December 11.
Key facts
| Period | October 19 to December 11, 2026 (8 weeks) |
|---|---|
| People notified | About 190,000 (about 250,000 in total expected, including those identified by local governments themselves) |
| Financially at-risk households | 17,000 victims of illegal private lending, vulnerable debtors and people whose debt adjustment has been suspended |
| Disability and energy-vulnerable | 13,000 in at-risk households with disabilities; 17,000 in energy-vulnerable households in winter |
| Emergency referral system | From October 30: counselling at the Illegal Private Lending Damage Report Center and the Credit Counseling and Recovery Service → referral to the basic local government |
Last checked:
Korea's Ministry of Health and Welfare is conducting the '2026 Fifth Welfare Blind Spot Identification and Survey' for eight weeks from October 19 to December 11. About 190,000 people will be notified to local governments for the survey, including 17,000 in financially at-risk households such as victims of illegal private lending, vulnerable debtors and people whose debt adjustment has been suspended, 13,000 in at-risk households with disabilities including people with severe disabilities, and 17,000 in energy-vulnerable households in winter. From October 30, an emergency referral system will also operate, under which cases judged to need welfare support during illegal private lending damage counselling are promptly referred to the basic local government.
Summaries below are factual notes based on government announcements and primary sources — not evaluations or opinions.
FAQ
How are survey targets selected?
Big data including 49 types of crisis information, such as electricity and water cut-offs, is analysed to select households at high risk of welfare crisis and notify them to local governments; eup, myeon and dong offices then check whether a crisis actually exists through AI initial counselling and surveys by outreach health and welfare service teams.
How are victims of illegal private lending connected to welfare support?
From October 30, if staff at the Illegal Private Lending Damage Report Center or the dedicated desks of the Credit Counseling and Recovery Service judge during counselling that welfare support is needed, they promptly refer the case to the basic local government.