“150,000 Won Per Month” Gokseong-gun Finalizes Rural Basic Income Guidelines

Rural Basic Income Guidelines Revised
Restrictions on New Residents in Non-Residential Facilities

Gokseong-gun in South Jeolla Province announced on the 23rd that it has revised and finalized the implementation guidelines for this year’s “Rural Basic Income” program, specifying in detail the eligible recipients, residency requirements, and permitted uses.

The “Rural Basic Income” program is a policy under which county residents who are actually living in Gokseong-gun and have maintained resident registration there for at least 30 days receive 150,000 won per month in local gift certificates (Simcheong Gift Certificates) for approximately two years. Since applications opened on January 20, the program has drawn an enthusiastic response, with an application rate of 83% within just one month.

The core of this guideline revision is the adjustment of the reference date for residency and the tightening of the actual-residency requirements. The reference date for residency was pushed back from October 20, 2025 to December 2, the date on which Gokseong-gun was additionally selected for the program. Those who had been living there before December 2 last year can apply immediately, but new residents who moved in after that date can only apply 30 days after their move-in date. For 90 days after application, the authorities will closely verify whether the applicant is actually residing there, and payments will then be made retroactively. The actual-residency requirement has been clearly set as “residing at least three days a week.”

Residents living in non-residential structures such as small farm huts or containers are also eligible, provided they had actually been living there since before December 2 last year. However, those who moved into such facilities after the reference date are excluded from the benefits.

The permitted use of the basic income has also been subdivided according to the town (eup) and township (myeon) living areas. Residents of the eup may use it anywhere within Gokseong-gun for 90 days, while residents of the myeon areas may use it for 180 days in all myeon regions except the eup.

However, five types of businesses concentrated in the eup area - hospitals, pharmacies, private academies, movie theaters, and optical shops - can be used without any spending limit regardless of one’s living area. To further enhance convenience, anyone can freely make payments of up to 50,000 won at gas stations, convenience stores, and Hanaro Mart branches located in myeon areas (if a business agreement has been signed).

The county plans to verify eligibility for residents who apply by the end of this month, obtain deliberation by the eup and myeon committees, and begin the first payments at the end of next month.

An official from Gokseong-gun said, “We will promptly inform residents of the revised implementation guidelines through newsletters and village meetings to minimize confusion,” adding, “We will do our best to ensure that the Rural Basic Income program takes firm root in a stable manner and becomes a strong priming pump for the local economy.”