Post office delivery workers will visit households eligible for agri-food vouchers to explain the programme in person.

The Postal Service under the Ministry of Science and ICT said on Sept. 20 it signed a business agreement with the Korea Agro-Fisheries and Food Trade Corp (aT) for a support project for “agri-food voucher welfare mail” to improve food access for vulnerable groups and raise the application rate for agri-food vouchers.

The agri-food voucher programme provides electronic voucher cards that can be used to buy items such as fruit and vegetables, white milk and mixed grains to households receiving subsistence benefits that include pregnant women, infants, children or young people.

Under the agreement, delivery workers will visit eligible households that have difficulty accessing information and provide guidance on the agri-food voucher programme and how to apply. The Postal Service expects this will raise the application rate and reduce welfare blind spots.

The Postal Service has previously provided tailored welfare information to vulnerable groups through welfare mail for the energy voucher and the Culture Nuri Card voucher, among others.

Jung Cheol-jung (정철중), head of the Postal Business Group at the Postal Service, said it would provide tailored guidance to vulnerable groups with limited access to information and raise the application rate for agri-food vouchers and administrative efficiency. He said it would continue to identify a range of public services using the post office network.