"Family Of Five Gets 750,000 Won A Month Just By Breathing"... Jangsu County Booming As Rural Basic Income Kicks In [Report]

First Basic Income Payments on the 26th
Concerns Over Population Falling Below 20,000... Now Forecast to Reach 21,500 Next Year
New Businesses Open, From Bathhouses to Shops

"With basic income being paid out for the first time today, as someone running a restaurant, I am expecting higher sales. If more people move their resident registration to Jangsu County to receive the basic income, I think we will see many more customers," said Kim Kijun, who runs a restaurant in Jangsu County.

On the 26th, the day rural basic income was first disbursed, we visited Jangsu County in North Jeolla Province, the pilot project area. Kim Kijun, who runs a restaurant in Jangsu-eup, said he expected both an increase in consumption and an inflow of population as a result of the basic income payments. Kim's family, with three children, receives 750,000 won in basic income every month. Kim's wife, Park Haejin, said, "Up to now we only sent our first child to an arts and physical education academy, but with the basic income we are planning to send our second and third children to Taekwondo or piano lessons as well," adding, "We used to shop online a lot, but now we expect to spend more within the local community."

On the 26th at Jangsu County Office, Song Miryeong, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (top row, center), and Kim Kijun (top row, left), with their families, pose for a commemorative photo. Photo by the joint news team

Since Jangsu County was selected as a pilot area for the basic income program, both the population and the number of affiliated merchants have increased. The resident registration population rose by 570 people, from 20,445 in November last year to 21,015 in January this year. During the same period, the number of affiliated merchants that accept Jangsu Love Gift Certificates, which can be used to spend the basic income, increased by 50, from 676 to 726.

An official from Jangsu County said, "Before being selected for the basic income program, the population was steadily declining, and there were serious concerns that Jangsu County's population would fall below 20,000," and added, "Thanks to the basic income, the number of people moving in has increased, and if this trend continues, we expect the population to reach around 21,500 next year."

Jangsu County is pursuing various projects linked to the rural basic income. From May this year, it plans to operate a Youth Vitality Center equipped with youth start-up support spaces, shared offices, and meeting rooms, in an effort to strengthen the foundation for attracting and retaining young people. In the second half of the year, it plans to run a mobile marketplace that travels to 30 villages in Jangsu County to sell daily necessities, as well as unmanned small shops installed in senior centers.

On the 26th, at the food court of Jangsu-gun Eoulrim Center, owners of a restaurant and a cafe are posing for a commemorative photo. Joint Press Corps

A food court has already been established at the Eoullim Center located in the town center. Since last month, three businesses, including eateries and a cafe, have been operating there. Lee Jeongmin, who runs a cafe at the Eoullim Center, said, "It is not very well known yet, so sales are still minimal," but added, "We are planning to diversify our menu in line with the basic income payments. Once more people hear about us, we expect sales to increase significantly."

The basic income is also prompting people to move into small, village-level communities in Jangsu County. Jeong Minsu, head of O-ok Village, said, "In our three areas of O-ok Village, Wolcheon Village, and Okja-dong, 65 people in 35 households live here, and since we were selected as a basic income target area, the population has increased by three," explaining, "People from Gyeonggi Province and Incheon moved into vacant houses in our village for the purpose of returning to farming or relocating from the city."

The 10 counties selected as pilot areas for the rural basic income program, which have been accepting applications since last December, are paying 150,000 won in basic income in the form of local love gift certificates to eligible residents over the two days of the 26th and 27th. On this day, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Song Miryeong visited Jangsu County and personally handed local love gift certificates to the first recipient of the rural basic income.

Changes are also taking place not only in Jangsu County but in other regions selected for the rural basic income pilot project. In Namhae County, residents have opened a side-dish shop and the "Popeye Street & Market" in previously vacant stores, while in Sunchang County, a clothing shop and a snack bar have newly opened. In Sinan County, a home appliance store has opened, and in Cheongyang County, an ice cream shop and other businesses have appeared.

Song Miryeong, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, delivers remarks while attending the first payment ceremony for the basic income for farming and fishing communities in Jangsu-gun on the 26th. Joint press corps

Minister Song said, "Even though it is not a large amount of money, if it is spent within the region and, as a result, young people start businesses and new young people move in, this kind of virtuous cycle can help rural areas regain vitality and be reborn," adding, "Through the basic income policy, which is a policy experiment to promote balanced national development and to create rural areas where people can stay, we will do everything we can so that regions at risk of extinction can regain their vitality and take off again."