3rd National Conference on Rural Basic Income
Expectations for Population Inflow and Local Economic Revitalization
On the 18th, Hampyeong County in Jeonnam held the "3rd National Rural Basic Income Conference" at the Hampyeong Cultural Center to seek solutions for overcoming the crisis of local extinction and promoting balanced regional development. Photo by Jeonnam Hampyeong County
Hampyeong County, South Jeolla Province, announced on the 19th that it successfully held the 3rd National Conference on Rural Basic Income, which aims to overcome the crisis of local extinction and seek balanced regional development.
The conference, held at the Hampyeong Culture Center on the 18th, was co-hosted by the Hampyeong County Federation of the Korea Advanced Farmers Management Association (President Shim Jaesik) and the National Alliance for Rural Basic Income Movement (Executive Representative Lee Jaewook).
More than 300 people attended the event, including Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Lee Hakyoung, National Assembly Member Lee Gaeho, Chairman of the Public Administration and Security Committee Shin Jeonghun, and Supreme Council Member of the Democratic Party Joo Cheolhyeon.
The conference featured discussions on the necessity of introducing rural basic income policies, specific implementation directions, and future prospects.
The event proceeded with an opening ceremony and commemorative events, followed by special lectures from Lee Hakyoung, Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, and Kang Wiwon, former Director of the Gyeonggi-do Agricultural and Fisheries Promotion Agency.
Amid unstable domestic and international circumstances, participants explored the sustainability of rural areas and exchanged ideas on the enactment of special laws for the realization of rural basic income and the establishment of central government-level policies to address rural extinction.
The rural basic income pilot project, launched in May 2022 in Cheongsan-myeon, Yeoncheon County, Gyeonggi Province, with around 4,000 participants, has proven effective in attracting population inflow and revitalizing the local economy. There are plans to gradually expand the scale of the pilot project.
Hampyeong County, with a suitable population of about 30,000 and currently actively considering basic income policies, was mentioned as a potential pilot project area.
Lee Jaewook, Executive Representative of the National Alliance for Rural Basic Income, said, "Through this conference, many people have come to understand the necessity of rural basic income," adding, "We will actively strive to make this policy a reality."
Lee Gaeho, National Assembly Member, stated, "Now is the time for everyone to unite to respond to local extinction," and promised, "I will do my best to improve the system and secure related budgets for the introduction of rural basic income."
Lee Sangik, Mayor of Hampyeong County, said, "Rural basic income will serve as an important foundation not only for farmers but also for revitalizing the local community," pledging, "We will accelerate the introduction of this policy to create a happy local society."
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