Inconsistent welfare attitude in South Korea:Trends and factors of Not
Out of My Pocket (NOOMP)
Abstract
This study compares longitudinal changes in the scales and
characteristics of the ‘not out of my pocket’ (NOOMP) phenomenon, a
welfare attitude in South Korea that supports expanding the welfare
system but rejects tax increases. Using the Welfare Perception and
Attitude Surveys, this study examines shifts in the scales and
characteristics of NOOMP for major welfare policies. The results show
that NOOMP is being alleviated; alleviation is largest for pensions,
followed by public assistance, health insurance, and employment
policies. These changes suggest that, to mitigate NOOMP, the welfare
system should strengthen the benefit levels of health insurance, improve
the gender inequality inherent in the national pension, build a social
consensus on increases in public assistance, and expand employment
insurance benefits to youth and the elderly.