[DigitalToday reporter Lee Ji-young (이지영)] The Ministry of the Interior and Safety said first-round payments of relief funds for damage from high oil prices will begin on April 27.

The first round targets vulnerable groups including basic livelihood beneficiaries, near-poverty groups and single-parent families. Payments are 550,000 won per person for basic livelihood beneficiaries and 450,000 won per person for near-poverty groups and single-parent families. Residents outside the capital region or in depopulation areas will receive an additional 50,000 won per person.

Applications will be accepted for about 2 weeks from 9 a.m. on April 27 to 6 p.m. on May 8. Applications can be made both online and offline, and recipients can choose to receive the funds via credit or debit card, prepaid card or local love gift certificate.

In the first week of applications, a weekday system based on the last digit of an applicant's birth year will be applied to prevent congestion and system overload. For offline applications, the weekday system may be extended depending on local conditions. With May 1 Labor Day designated as a public holiday, applicants with birth-year last digits 5 or 0 will also be able to apply on April 30, in addition to those with 4 or 9.

Those who cannot apply during the first-round period can apply during a second-round period running from May 18 to July 3.

Those who want payment by credit or debit card can apply online through a card issuer's website, app or call center, and can also apply by visiting a bank branch linked to the card.

Those who want local love gift certificates in mobile or card form can apply through the relevant local government's app or website. Paper gift certificates or prepaid cards can be collected by visiting an administrative welfare center in an eup, myeon or dong, a community service center, or an eup or myeon office.

The funds can be used until Aug. 31. Residents of special cities and metropolitan cities, including Sejong and Jeju, can use them within the relevant metropolitan local government area, while residents in provinces can use them within their city or county of residence.

Local love gift certificates can be used at affiliated stores with annual sales of 3 billion won or less. Cards and prepaid cards can be used at small business stores with annual sales of 3 billion won or less, excluding entertainment and gambling-related businesses.

Those who object to eligibility selection or the payment amount can file an objection from May 8 to July 17. But if there is no change in eligibility due to adjustments in child-support relationships, a minor applying in person, or a change of address, an objection can also be filed from April 27 to May 8.

Objections can be submitted online through the National Petition Center or offline at an eup, myeon or dong administrative welfare center and other locations. Local governments will review submitted cases and notify applicants individually.