South Korean local governments implement rural support and basic income pilots

rural basic income local government budget livelihood stability support regional economic revitalization social solidarity economy

Various South Korean local governments are implementing financial measures to support livelihoods and pilot rural basic income programs.

Buan County has begun distributing 300,000 KRW per person to residents to stabilize living standards and boost the local economy ahead of the Chuseok holiday. The funds are being distributed via prepaid cards through on-site visits to 521 villages.

In Gangjin County, a supplementary budget of 654.3 billion KRW has been proposed, prioritizing funds for a rural basic income pilot project. Similarly, Namwon City has finalized a 1.23 trillion KRW supplementary budget focusing on livelihood support, smart agriculture, and tourism.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs is also recruiting regional support organizations to manage service supplies in areas receiving rural basic income. These organizations will connect residents with social solidarity economy groups to ensure that increased purchasing power translates into local services and jobs. Meanwhile, Boeun County officials have called for increased national government funding to alleviate the fiscal burden of these rural basic income pilot programs.