In virus relief, tech-savvy South Korea beats paperwork-heavy Japan

In South Korea, 80% of households had received handouts as of May 19, according to a daily tally by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety. The government runs a dedicated website on the programme, offering quick search links that show how much families can receive, and ways to apply – either online, via websites or credit card apps, or in person at banks or municipal offices. — AP

Lee Jong-chul, a 57-year-old truck driver who lives just south of Seoul, says it took little more than a minute to access his 400,000 won (RM1,413) cash handout from the South Korean government earlier this month.

For 2.8 million Korean households it didn’t take any time at all: the money was automatically wired to their bank accounts without even an application.