The provincial funding share for the Namhae County Rural Basic Income Pilot Project, which had been entirely cut by the Agriculture, Oceans, and Fisheries Committee of the Gyeongnam Provincial Council, has been restored by the Special Budget and Accounts Committee.
On the afternoon of December 10, the Special Budget and Accounts Committee in charge of the provincial government held the 4th session of the 428th regular meeting and approved the 2026 Gyeongnam Province budget bill.
After several recesses, the committee decided in the evening to pass the budget bill as originally proposed.
The approved budget includes 12.636 billion won in provincial funding for the Rural Basic Income Pilot Project, which had previously been cut by the Agriculture, Oceans, and Fisheries Committee.
The committee restored the entire provincial funding share for the pilot project but attached a supplementary opinion urging that the project be implemented by increasing the central government’s funding ratio.
It also called for measures to provide financial support to other cities and counties not included in the pilot project.
The "Rural Basic Income Pilot Project" is a program promoted by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, targeting counties at risk of extinction due to population decline and rapid aging. From 2026 to 2027, all residents of the pilot regions will receive a basic income in the form of local gift certificates worth 150,000 won per month, totaling 1.8 million won per year.
The total budget for the Rural Basic Income Project in Namhae County, which was selected for the pilot, is 70.2 billion won.
Previously, in July, Gyeongnam Province decided not to provide provincial funding for the pilot project due to increased fiscal burdens, including spending on recovery for areas affected by extreme rainfall, an increase in next year’s agricultural and fisheries subsidies, and the allocation of provincial funds to livelihood recovery consumption coupons. After much deliberation, the province decided to cover 18% of the total 60% local funding share, or 30% of the provincial share.
As a result, the central government will provide 20.88 billion won (40%), Gyeongnam Province 12.636 billion won (18%), and Namhae County 29.484 billion won (42%).
However, during the National Assembly's budget review, a supplementary opinion was issued stating that the funding ratio should be 40% central government, 30% provincial government, and 30% county government. The central government also warned that if the provincial funding share is not set at a minimum of 30%, it would withhold its funding.
Subsequently, the Agriculture, Oceans, and Fisheries Committee of the provincial council cut the entire provincial funding share for the Rural Basic Income Pilot Project during the preliminary review of the agricultural policy budget for next year, citing the heavy local fiscal burden, potential side effects such as fraudulent address registration, and the concern that the policy would only benefit a specific region.
When it became apparent that the project itself could be canceled if the budget restored by the province was not maintained in the Special Budget and Accounts Committee, Namhae County Governor Jang Chungnam, Namhae County residents, and others called for the restoration of the budget. Ryu Kyungwan, a provincial council member representing Namhae County, also staged a head-shaving protest in front of the council to appeal for the budget's reinstatement.
The 2026 Gyeongnam Province budget bill, which passed the Special Budget and Accounts Committee on this day, will be finalized at the 6th plenary session of the 428th regular meeting on December 16.
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