Local Gift Certificates to Be Provided for Two Years
in Yeoncheon, Jeongseon, Cheongyang, Sunchang, Shinan, Yeongyang, and Namhae
The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs announced on October 20 that it has selected seven counties-Yeoncheon in Gyeonggi Province, Jeongseon in Gangwon Province, Cheongyang in South Chungcheong Province, Sunchang in North Jeolla Province, Shinan in South Jeolla Province, Yeongyang in North Gyeongsang Province, and Namhae in South Gyeongsang Province-as pilot sites for the “Basic Income for Rural Areas” project. This initiative is a national policy aimed at addressing the risk of rural extinction caused by population decline and aging, which have diminished vitality in rural communities.
The pilot project will be implemented over two years starting in 2026, providing residents of the selected areas with local gift certificates worth 150,000 won per month. The project is intended both to revitalize local economies and to compensate rural residents for their public contributions. The Ministry plans to use this project to identify sustainable basic income models tailored to diverse regional conditions and to lay the groundwork for broader policy adoption in the future.
Out of 69 counties designated as areas of population decline, 49 counties (71%) applied for the pilot. The Ministry evaluated the extinction risk of each area, the feasibility of each local government's implementation plan, and strategies for generating results linked to basic income, ultimately selecting the final sites based on a comprehensive assessment.
Yeoncheon County will verify the effects of expanding basic income to the county level, building on its experience as the first in the nation to introduce rural basic income in Cheongsan-myeon in 2022. Jeongseon County will present a model that creates local funding by utilizing dividends from Kangwon Land shares. Cheongyang County will assess policy effectiveness by linking it to the local consumption cycle, including social economy revitalization and the “Smart Cheongyang Movement.” Sunchang County aims to attract population inflow by expanding welfare across life stages and revitalizing the local community.
Shinan County will experiment with securing basic income funding through the sharing of development profits, such as the “Wind Pension.” Yeongyang County will secure resources through the construction of a wind power complex and examine the policy’s effects in sparsely populated mountain areas. Namhae County will establish a foundation for attracting young people and build a cooperative system among residents, small business owners, and the local government to strengthen connections with basic social policies.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs plans to support each county’s administrative preparations in accordance with preliminary plans to ensure smooth project implementation from 2026. In addition, a support team composed of regional regeneration and economic experts will be formed to assist with the formulation and review of local government plans.
The Ministry will establish performance indicators and an evaluation framework within the year and, through collaboration between local governments and research institutions, will conduct a comprehensive analysis of residents’ quality of life, changes in the local economy, and community revitalization. The results of this analysis will be used in a public deliberation process and serve as the basis for expanding the project in the future.
Song Miryung, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, stated, “We hope that the rural basic income will serve as a catalyst for revitalizing local economies, communities, and social services,” adding, “We will spare no policy support to ensure that it becomes a cornerstone of balanced national development.”
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