Gimhae City in South Gyeongsang Province announced on the 26th that it is recruiting participants for hearing test and hearing aid support programs to protect the health rights of residents in areas affected by airport noise.
This year, a new subsidy for hearing aid purchases has been established, and the support limit for agricultural machinery rental fees has been raised by 100,000 won compared to last year, expanding the scope of assistance. Beneficiaries will be selected on a first-come, first-served basis until the budget is exhausted.
Medical support for protecting residents' health rights consists of hearing tests and hearing aid purchase subsidies. The hearing test support program targets residents who have lived in the designated areas for more than three years and are experiencing hearing problems. Those selected will receive basic tests including speech audiometry, pure-tone audiometry, and impedance audiometry, with additional precision tests available based on doctor recommendations. However, individuals already diagnosed with hearing disabilities and infants under 60 months of age are excluded.
The newly established hearing aid support program targets residents diagnosed with moderate hearing loss among participants in the 2025 or 2026 hearing test support programs. Subsidies of up to 1 million won per person will be provided, covering the amount after a 10% copayment. Those who have already received hearing aid purchase subsidies under the Medical Care Assistance Act or National Health Insurance Act are not eligible for duplicate support.
An agricultural machinery rental fee support program is also being implemented to reduce the financial burden on rural residents and farmers. Those who have used Gimhae City's agricultural machinery rental facilities and paid rental fees after January 1, 2026, are eligible to apply. The support limit has been raised to a maximum of 250,000 won per person, an increase of 100,000 won from last year.
Eligible areas include parts of Juchon (Dongseon and Seoseon), Daedong (Seonam), Dongsang, Hoehyeon, Buwon, Naeoe, Chilsanseobu, Hwalcheon, Saman, and Bulam—all designated as airport noise countermeasure or adjacent zones.
Applications can be submitted through the citizen participation board on the Gimhae City website or by visiting the local administrative welfare center or the city's Urban Planning Division.