The Ministry of Health and Welfare says monthly basic pension benefits for low-income elderly Koreans are set to increase to as much as 209-thousand-960 won beginning next month. 

The increase reflects a corresponding increase in consumer prices of one-point-nine percent last year. 

Starting in September, payments will further increase to as much as 250-thousand won in accordance with the revised basic pension law that passed the National Assembly last month. 

This year, the benefits will be doled out to households consisting of a person aged 65 or older earning one-point-31 million won per month or less, or elderly couples making less than two-point-one million won per month together.