"200 Million Won for a Family of Four"... This Area to Provide 500,000 Won per Person in Livelihood Support Funds Starting January 26

Yeongdong County to Issue 500,000 Won Prepaid Livelihood Support Cards
Usable Until June This Year... Unused Balance Will Expire After Deadline

As local governments in North Chungcheong Province that were excluded from the government's rural basic income pilot areas are rushing to introduce "livelihood support payments," Yeongdong County has announced that it will provide livelihood stabilization support payments to all residents in order to revitalize the local economy and stabilize residents' livelihoods.

Geumgang Dullegil, Yeongdong County. Yeongdong County Office

Yeongdong County to Issue 500,000 KRW Prepaid Cards per Person Starting January 26

According to Yeongdong County on January 20, the county will accept applications for livelihood stabilization support payments from January 26 to February 27. Eligible recipients are residents who have been registered in Yeongdong County since January 1 of this year, including marriage immigrants and permanent residents.

Applications can be made at the local township or town offices, and after an identity verification process, applicants will receive a prepaid card loaded with 500,000 KRW on the spot. The card can be used until June 30, 2026, starting from the date of issuance.

However, in order to support small business owners, the card cannot be used at businesses with annual sales of 3 billion KRW or more, at entertainment or gambling establishments, or for paying utility bills. In township areas with limited places to use the card, it can also be used at Nonghyup Hanaro Mart stores.

To reduce congestion during the initial application period, an application schedule based on the last digit of the head of household's birth year will be implemented during the first week. For more details, residents can contact the Economic Affairs Division at Yeongdong County Office.

An official from Yeongdong County stated, "To avoid congestion during the first week of applications, we will implement a schedule based on the last digit of the head of household's birth year," and added, "For any questions, please contact the Economic Affairs Division at the county office."

North Chungcheong Local Governments Rush to Provide 'Livelihood Support Payments'... Criticism of 'Cash Handouts Ahead of Local Elections'

In North Chungcheong Province, after Okcheon County was selected as a rural basic income pilot area and decided to provide all residents with 150,000 KRW in local currency per month from 2026 to 2027, plans to distribute livelihood support payments have spread in a domino effect. As the impact of introducing basic income has spread, particularly in rural areas suffering from severe population decline, a series of moves have emerged either to keep this in check or to appease local sentiment.

There is also criticism that these measures constitute populist budget spending aimed at this year's local elections. While the rural basic income is funded by 40% from the national government, 30% from the provincial government, and 30% from the county, the livelihood support payments must be entirely covered by the respective local government's budget. Local governments with a fiscal self-reliance ratio of less than 10% may face financial pressure in the process of securing up to 20 billion KRW in livelihood support payments.