Cheongyang Rural Basic Income Pilot Project Surpasses 50% Application Rate

Kim Dongon: "Basic Income as a Right"
Policy Gains Trust and Delivers Results

Cheongyang County Office Panorama

Kim Dongon, Governor of Cheongyang County in South Chungcheong Province, is seeing clear results from the Rural Basic Income Pilot Project, which he has been overseeing. The governor’s policy perspective of “basic income as a right” is rapidly gaining traction in the field, with the application rate surpassing 50% just eight days after the start of the application period.

On January 5, Cheongyang County announced that, as of January 2, a total of 15,473 people had applied for the Rural Basic Income Pilot Project, which aims to improve the quality of life for rural residents and revitalize the local economy.

This represents an application rate of 51.6% of all eligible residents. Since the application period began on December 22, 2025, at 10 township and town offices, more than half of county residents have participated in a short period of time.

From the outset, the county has provided training for township and town staff, assigned additional personnel to each service window, and offered on-site support for completing applications and registering for the local gift certificate app, all to minimize inconvenience for residents.

Additionally, the county plans to further strengthen outreach to those who have not yet applied and to fully operate a “visiting application service” for elderly residents and those with mobility difficulties, in order to reduce blind spots in the application process.

Governor Kim Dongon stated, “Rural basic income is not a benefit for a specific group, but a right that all Cheongyang residents should enjoy,” adding, “We will make sure that no one is excluded from support due to not applying, by thoroughly checking on each individual in the field.”

He further emphasized, “Beyond simple income support, we will build a Cheongyang-style basic social foundation that leads to a virtuous cycle in the local economy and the restoration of our community.”

The Rural Basic Income Pilot Project will be implemented for two years, from February 2026 to December 2027, providing local gift certificates worth 150,000 won per month to residents who actually live in the area.

The county will form on-site investigation teams to rigorously verify actual residency and will operate a reporting center to prevent fraudulent claims. If fraudulent claims are detected, not only will the support funds be reclaimed, but a penalty of up to five times the amount may also be imposed.