South Korea has increased financial support this year for asylum seekers coming to the country, the justice ministry said Sunday.

The government has approved a 510 million won (US$461,747) budget this year to assist refugee applicants from overseas, 50 percent higher than the amount given out in 2014.

Asylum seekers in South Korea have been increasing in number in recent years. In 2012 and 2013, the figure came to 1,143 and 1,574 people, respectively, while in the January-November period of last year, the number jumped 63 percent on-year to a total of 2,565, according to government data.

The number of those that qualified for financial aid has also increased, coming to 157 in December, up more than eightfold compared to the 19 people who received the support in February last year.

The government's financial support program was implemented in 2014. The money helps cover the living costs of those who have requested refugee status but are awaiting final approval.

A monthly allowance of 409,000 won will be given per person, up 7 percent from last year's 382,200 won, according to the Ministry of Justice. The government will also provide 1.31 million won to households of five, which is nearly 6 percent higher than the amount given out in 2014.

Last year, 340 million won went to 319 people.

The number of people given permission to reside here as refugees, meanwhile, has remained steady in recent years. A total of 61 people were admitted into the country as refugees in the first 11 months of last year, up 1.67 percent compared to the 60 registered in 2012, according to government data. (Yonhap)