South Korean villages selected for resident-led solar energy project

Several South Korean municipalities have been selected for the 2026 Sunshine Income Village project, a resident-led renewable energy initiative. Under this program, residents establish cooperatives to install solar power facilities on public land or idle village sites, using the generated revenue for community welfare, local improvements, and resident dividends.

Gumi has secured selection for four villages, including Daewon 1 and 2 in Okseong-myeon, which will implement floating solar power models. This brings Gumi's total to five participating villages. In Sangju, eight out of nine applicant villages received conditional selection. Meanwhile, in Jeollabuk-do, Gochang County saw nine villages selected, while Buan County had two villages chosen.

The government supports these projects by providing long-term, low-interest loans covering up to 85% of installation costs. The initiative aims to create stable, non-agricultural income streams for aging rural populations, transforming underutilized spaces into communal assets.