Home

saenggye

Saenggye, written 생계 in Hangul, is a Korean noun meaning livelihood or means of subsistence. It refers to the resources and activities a person or household uses to secure basic needs such as food, shelter, clothing, and health care. In everyday use, 생계 is often discussed in relation to work, income, and social welfare, since changes in employment or earnings can affect a family’s ability to maintain it.

The term derives from Sino-Korean characters 生 (life) and 計 (to count or plan). Together they convey the

Common expressions include 생계 유지 (maintenance of livelihood), 생계비 (living expenses), and 생계 수단 (means of livelihood).

In South Korea, 생계 is a central concept in social policy. The National Basic Livelihood Security System (기초생활보장제도)

idea
of
planning
resources
to
sustain
life,
a
usage
that
remains
common
in
contemporary
Korean.
provides
생계급여
(livelihood
benefits)
and
other
supports
to
households
below
income
thresholds,
alongside
housing
and
medical
assistance.
The
term
frequently
appears
in
discussions
of
poverty,
living
wages,
and
the
adequacy
of
social
safety
nets.