"Even Foreigners Get It," 14.4 Million Enrolled... What's Happening Amid Bankruptcy Rumors?

Amid scorching heat approaching 40°C (104°F) that is sending a flood of heat-related illness patients to hospitals, some local governments are operating programs that pay out heat wave insurance claims.

A representative example is the Gyeonggi Climate Insurance, which Gyeonggi Province residents are automatically enrolled in.

It is structured so that approximately 14.4 million people, including Gyeonggi Province residents, registered foreigners within the province, and foreign nationals of Korean descent, are automatically enrolled without any separate procedures.

The insurance period for this year runs from April 11 to April 10 of next year, and insurance claims can be filed within three years from the date of the accident or diagnosis.

Heat-related illness coverage is also included.

If diagnosed with a heat-related illness such as heatstroke, heat exhaustion, heat syncope, or heat cramps, a diagnosis benefit of 150,000 won is paid out.

Those who visit the emergency room due to heat-related illnesses, cold-related illnesses, or climate disaster accidents receive 100,000 won, and a consolation of 300,000 won is also paid if a person receives a diagnosis of four weeks or more due to weather warning or natural disaster-related accidents.

When diagnosed with climate-related infectious diseases such as malaria and tsutsugamushi disease, 200,000 won can be received.

Even if the subscriber has previously signed up for other insurance policies, overlapping coverage is possible, and Gyeonggi Province covers the entire insurance premium.

Actual payout cases are also continuing.

Students diagnosed with heat-related illnesses during outdoor experiential learning and citizens who experienced heat exhaustion during physical activities have received insurance payouts.

The introduction of climate insurance by local governments is showing a spreading trend.

Jeju Special Self-Governing Province has subscribed to a product that compensates for the daily wages of workers that decrease when construction work stops due to heat wave warnings.

It is a method of paying out insurance money based on temperature without separate screening procedures.

While public-style climate insurance is being introduced as heat waves become routine, it has been reported that the Gyeonggi provincial finances are virtually in a state of bankruptcy, leading to backlash among some netizens with comments such as, "This is why there is no money," and "Are they even giving tax money to foreigners?"

Reported by Jung Da-eun | Video by Choi Gang-san | Design by Yang Hye-min | Produced by SBS Digital News
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.