The outgoing government has announced plans to increase the number of people who benefit from welfare payments from the present 1.4 million to 1.88 million from next year.

Under the present program, four-person households whose monthly income falls below W1.55 million (US$1=W1,064) are entitled to a lump welfare package covering living expenses, rent, education, medical costs, childbirth and funerals.

But the government wants to revise the system and offer benefits separately in order to include more people.