The number of people who filed for a personal bailout program nearly quadrupled over five years as the economic slowdown began to kick in, especially among the debt-ridden middle class.

The government program is designed to give people some leeway on overdue interest on loans and have their debts written off when they fulfill debt obligations.

Most applicants of the rescue program belong to the middle class, who have a stable income or assets but are struggling to pay their debts.

Experts said the current housing crisis and high unemployment rates have pushed more middle-class Koreans, who may never have considered the option before, to file for the bailout system.

The middle class is defined as households with between 50 and 150 percent of the nation’s median income.

By Kim So-hyun (sophie@heraldcorp.com)