Korea's high oil price relief payment: what foreign residents should check

Key facts to check first

Second application period: May 18, 2026 at 9:00 AM to July 3, 2026 at 6:00 PM.
Payment amount: KRW 100,000 for Seoul metropolitan-area residents, KRW 150,000 for non-metropolitan residents, KRW 200,000 for priority support population-decline areas, and KRW 250,000 for special support population-decline areas.
Selection basis: The second round uses household-level March 2026 National Health Insurance contribution criteria, with separate high-asset exclusions.
Foreigner eligibility check: Foreign residents should check whether they are in a household with a Korean national and meet health-insurance or medical-aid conditions, or whether a foreigner-only household meets the F-5, F-6, or F-2-4 exception and health-insurance or medical-aid condition.
Use deadline: Unused support is scheduled to expire after August 31, 2026.

Quick context

Korea's 2026 high oil price relief payment is a time-limited program. The second application period opened on May 18, 2026 and is set to run through July 3, 2026. How much you get — and whether you qualify — depends on your household, your region, the health-insurance contribution criteria, and how your local government and payment provider handle it.

Timeline

April 27-May 8, 2026

First round for basic livelihood security recipients, near-poverty groups, and single-parent families.
May 18-July 3, 2026

Second round for the lower 70% income group, and for first-round recipients who did not apply during the first period.
August 31, 2026

Scheduled last day to use the support amount.

Why it matters

Foreign residents may hear about the payment but still need to confirm whether their household and status are included.
The second round is time-limited, and unused support is scheduled to expire after August 31, 2026.
Support-payment messages are also being used as a smishing hook, so application links must be verified carefully.

What foreign residents should check

Whether you are listed in a resident-registration household that includes at least one Korean national and whether you are an NHIS subscriber, dependent, or medical aid recipient.
If your household is composed only of foreign nationals, whether your status is F-5, F-6, or F-2-4 and whether you meet the health insurance or medical aid condition.
Whether your household meets the income and asset criteria used for the second payment round.
Which payment channel applies to you: card company, local office, bank branch, prepaid card, regional gift certificate, or another official channel.
Your local use restrictions, eligible stores, and the August 31, 2026 use deadline.

Suggested check order

1 First, check your household situation: mixed Korean-national household, foreigner-only household, or another case.
2 Second, check your health insurance or medical aid status and whether the second-round income and asset criteria apply to your household.
3 Third, use an official card company, bank, local-government, local gift certificate, or government notice channel that you opened yourself.
4 Fourth, ignore support-payment text messages or alerts that include URL links, and verify suspicious messages through official scam-check channels.

FAQ for foreign residents

Can an F-4 visa holder apply?

Do not assume eligibility from F-4 status alone. The Seoul foreign-resident Q&A checked for this page lists F-5, F-6, and F-2-4 as foreigner-only household exception examples with health insurance or medical aid conditions. If you are F-4 and live in a household that includes a Korean national, or your household situation is unusual, check your local office or the official call center before relying on eligibility.

Can an international student apply?

Do not assume eligibility from student status alone. Student visa holders should check household registration, health insurance or medical aid status, and whether the official foreign-resident exception applies. If you are not in a household with a Korean national and do not match an announced exception, treat eligibility as uncertain until an official channel confirms it.

Can I use the payment at a gas station?

MOIS announced that gas stations are included regardless of annual sales, but actual use can still depend on payment method, merchant handling, and local operation. Check the official guide, the payment provider, or the store before assuming a specific gas station will accept it.

What if I receive a text message with an application link?

Treat it as suspicious. MOIS has warned that smishing messages may imitate relief-payment notices. Open the official government, local-government, card-company, bank, or app channel yourself instead of clicking a URL from a text or chat message.

Where can I ask about my exact case?

Use the official high oil price relief payment call center at 1670-2626, your local-government call center, or your local resident center. For foreign-resident household questions, a foreign-resident support center may also help you understand which office or channel to contact.

Official-source checks

Check the Ministry of the Interior and Safety notice or official local-government guide for the current application period and payment rules.
Check a foreign-resident support center or local office if your household includes foreign residents, mixed nationality members, or visa-specific questions.
Use only official card-company, bank, local-government, or official app channels that you access independently.
Treat text messages or alerts with support-payment URLs as suspicious unless verified through an official channel.

Sources checked

MOIS: second application begins May 18
Official press release with application period, payment methods, contact points, and second-round operation details.
MOIS: high oil price relief payment official guide
Official program guide page for payment background, rounds, and basic program structure.
MOIS: gas station use update
MOIS notice explaining that gas stations are included regardless of annual sales.
MOIS/KTV: second application period and payment rules
Application period, amount range, NHIS contribution criteria, use deadline, and use locations.
Seoul Foreign Portal: foreign-resident eligibility Q&A
Foreign-resident household, F-5, F-6, F-2-4, and health insurance conditions.
MOIS/KTV: smishing warning for relief-payment messages
Support-payment notices with URL links should be treated as scam risks.

What this update does not mean

This update does not confirm that you personally are eligible.
This update does not replace the official application page, local-government decision, card-company process, or local office guidance.
This update does not judge immigration, tax, household-registration, or health-insurance consequences.