Gyeonggi Province has begun disbursing its first 'Rural Basic Income' payments to residents of Yeoncheon County as part of a government pilot program.
On the 27th, Gyeonggi Province announced it would disburse the first payments of the 'Rural Basic Income' program to residents of Yeoncheon County, selection of which as a pilot site by the government was announced on the 26th. The Rural Basic Income initiative is an expansion of a previously regional program that delivered monthly payments of 150,000 won in local currency to residents of Cheongsan-myeon, regardless of income or employment status, starting in 2022. The rollout now extends this benefit to all 35,227 residents of Yeoncheon County, increasing the initial target group from approximately 3,800 residents of Cheongsan-myeon.
The primary goal of the Rural Basic Income program is to enhance the quality of life for residents of rural areas facing the challenges of population decline and regional extinction, by providing monthly vouchers worth 150,000 won. To ensure the stable implementation of this government program, Gyeonggi Province allocated 714 million won specifically for operational costs such as verification of residency and the establishment of application and payment systems, making it the only provincial government in the nation to provide such dedicated support for this initiative in Yeoncheon County.
In addition to the basic income program, Gyeonggi Province is also launching the 'Happy Delivery Communication Cart' initiative to reach underserved areas with limited shopping options. This initiative will collaborate with local organizations to facilitate residents' purchases of necessary goods and provide support for health and psychological counseling. Gyeonggi Province aims to deliver a one-stop service focusing on the residents of Yeoncheon County, highlighting its commitment to utilizing this social experiment as a model for national policy and promoting rural rights and balanced regional development.
