Kim Taeheum: "Lee Jaemyung Administration's Basic Income for Rural Communities Is Populism"

"Universal Welfare Is a Policy That Only Increases Debt"
"We Should Focus Support on Marginalized Groups Through Selective Welfare"

On the 1st, Kim Taeheum, Governor of Chungnam Province, held a press conference at the provincial office and expressed opposition, stating that the basic income for rural farming and fishing communities proposed by the Lee Jae-myung administration is populism that shifts the financial burden to local governments.

Kim Taeheum, Governor of Chungnam Province, directly criticized the "basic income for rural farming and fishing communities," a core agricultural policy of the Lee Jaemyung administration, calling it "populism."

He has taken a firm stance against the government, arguing that shifting a greater financial burden to local governments than to the central government will only increase debt.

At a press conference held in the briefing room of the provincial office on the 1st, Governor Kim stated, "If the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs' proposal for a 40% central government and 60% local government cost-sharing is implemented, Chungnam Province alone would need to provide 115.7 billion won annually from its budget," and declared, "I am fundamentally opposed."

He further criticized, "If this is to be a pilot project, it would be reasonable to select one county from each of the nine provinces nationwide and support them with 100% central government funding. The current approach of having local governments compete for selection only leads to conflict and unnecessary competition."

He especially pointed out, "Universal welfare is ultimately populism. If payments are made to everyone regardless of income, support for truly marginalized groups will decrease, and local finances will be buried in debt."

He added, "I did not even receive the consumption coupon. Unless it is truly meaningful for those in need, distributing cash to every citizen is not a timely relief but simply populism."

However, regarding the fact that four out of the six counties in Chungnam experiencing population decline-Buyeo, Seocheon, Cheongyang, and Yesan-have expressed interest in participating, he left room for negotiation, saying, "If any are selected, we will conduct separate consultations at the provincial level."

Meanwhile, the Lee Jaemyung administration is pursuing basic income for rural farming and fishing communities as one of its 123 national policy tasks. Six counties will be selected out of 69 population-declining counties, and each resident will receive 150,000 won per month (1.8 million won per year) in local currency for two years. The government will finalize the selected counties after a written evaluation on the 15th and a presentation evaluation on the 17th.