Poverty and living standards in Icheon, South Korea: official figures

8,479 people in Icheon in 6,296 households were eligible for the basic livelihood security programme (customised benefits) in December 2025, or 37.4 for every 1,000 registered residents (South Korea: 55.4). Eligible means entitled to benefits, whether or not they were paid out. Icheon ranks 3rd lowest share eligible of 36 South Korean cities covered on this site.

How many people in Icheon get housing benefit?

In December 2025 4,498 people in Icheon were eligible for medical aid and 7,904 for housing benefit, or 19.8 and 34.8 for every 1,000 registered residents (South Korea: 30.2 and 52.1). Icheon ranks 3rd lowest share eligible for housing benefit of 36 South Korean cities covered on this site.

Source: Korea Social Security Information Service · saved copy

How many older people in Icheon receive the basic pension?

26,753 people in Icheon were eligible for the basic pension for older people in December 2025, equal to 60.1% of residents aged 65 or over (South Korea: 62.2%). Icheon ranks 7th lowest share of older people eligible of 36 South Korean cities covered on this site.

Source: Korea Social Security Information Service · saved copy

How many people with disabilities in Icheon get the disability pension?

1,462 people in Icheon were eligible for the disability pension in December 2025, or 6.4 for every 1,000 registered residents (South Korea: 6.8). Icheon ranks 11th lowest share eligible for the disability pension of 36 South Korean cities covered on this site.

Source: Korea Social Security Information Service · saved copy

How many low-income people in Icheon are just above the benefit line?

In December 2025 the near-poor groups just above the benefit line in Icheon included 463 people with disabilities, 741 people with reduced medical co-payments and 17 in self-sufficiency programmes: 5.4 for every 1,000 registered residents across the three groups (South Korea: 8.8). Icheon ranks 5th lowest near-poor share of 36 South Korean cities covered on this site.

Source: Korea Social Security Information Service · saved copy

How many children in Icheon get school cost support for low-income families?

1,179 people in Icheon were eligible for the basic livelihood education benefit (school costs for low-income families) in December 2025, or 39.0 for every 1,000 residents under 18 (South Korea: 47.1). Icheon ranks 7th lowest share eligible of 36 South Korean cities covered on this site.

Source: Korea Social Security Information Service · saved copy

How Icheon compares with other cities in South Korea

Basic livelihood programme: eligible people per 1,000 residents (Dec 2025)

Icheon ranks 34 of 36, highest first.

Rank	City	Basic livelihood programme: eligible people per 1,000 residents
30	Asan	42.9
31	Gumi	42.7
32	Seosan	39.9
33	Dangjin	39.4
34	Icheon	37.4
35	Cheonan	35.4
36	Sejong	26.1

Source: Korea Social Security Information Service · saved copy

Housing benefit: eligible people per 1,000 residents (Dec 2025)

Icheon ranks 34 of 36, highest first.

Rank	City	Housing benefit: eligible people per 1,000 residents
30	Gumi	40.2
31	Asan	39.9
32	Dangjin	36.1
33	Seosan	35.4
34	Icheon	34.8
35	Cheonan	33.5
36	Sejong	24.3

Source: Korea Social Security Information Service · saved copy

Basic pension: eligible people as a share of residents aged 65+ (Dec 2025)

Icheon ranks 30 of 36, highest first.

Rank	City	Basic pension: eligible people as a share of residents aged 65+
27	Geoje	61.0%
28	Daejeon	60.4%
29	Jeonju	60.3%
30	Icheon	60.1%
31	Cheonan	59.5%
32	Ulsan	59.5%
33	Seogwipo	59.3%

Source: Korea Social Security Information Service · saved copy

Disability pension: eligible people per 1,000 residents (Dec 2025)

Icheon ranks 26 of 36, highest first.

Rank	City	Disability pension: eligible people per 1,000 residents
23	Jeonju	6.9
24	Changwon	6.5
25	Yangsan	6.5
26	Icheon	6.4
27	Dangjin	6.3
28	Geoje	6.3
29	Gimhae	6.3

Source: Korea Social Security Information Service · saved copy

Near-poor groups (three programmes) per 1,000 residents (Dec 2025)

Icheon ranks 32 of 36, highest first.

Rank	City	Near-poor groups (three programmes) per 1,000 residents
29	Ulsan	6.8
30	Gumi	6.6
31	Seosan	6.5
32	Icheon	5.4
33	Dangjin	4.7
34	Asan	4.4
35	Sejong	4.3

Source: Korea Social Security Information Service · saved copy

More on Icheon: overview · health · all cities in South Korea

Sources

Korea Social Security Information Service: People eligible for welfare programmes by city, county and district, December 2025 (open file on the Public Data Portal), read 30 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 157ececacb6e…)

Each saved copy is the file exactly as downloaded, kept so the figures can be checked even if the source changes. Report an error.