'Lee Jae-myung's Basic Income' Online Expo to Be Held in September as the World's Largest Event

[Asia Economy (Suwon) = Reporter Lee Young-gyu] The "2020 Korea Basic Income Fair," a global policy festival focused on basic income and local currency, will be held online (www.basicincomefair.gg.go.kr) for two days from the 10th to 11th of next month.

Hosted by Gyeonggi Province and co-organized by the Gyeonggi Research Institute, Gyeonggi Market and Commercial District Promotion Agency, Basic Income Korea Network, and Kintex Co., Ltd., the "2020 Basic Income Fair" will feature a large number of world-renowned scholars and experts discussing basic income. It will be set up as a diverse exhibition and experiential festival where visitors can grasp basic income policies at a glance.

The fair was originally scheduled to be held for three days from February 6 to 8 at the Suwon Convention Center. However, it was postponed one week before the opening to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

The 2020 Basic Income Fair Organizing Committee decided to hold the fair as a non-face-to-face online event through the fair’s website and live broadcasts on Gyeonggi Province and broadcasting companies’ YouTube channels, considering that concerns about the spread of COVID-19 infection have not been completely resolved. No offline events will be held separately.

Jung Sung-ho, a member of the National Assembly and chairperson of the fair’s organizing committee, explained, "Although changes in the labor market are progressing at an unprecedented pace due to the Fourth Industrial Revolution, existing welfare systems are not keeping up with the times. Basic income is emerging as a promising alternative as a welfare-oriented economic policy, which is why this event was planned."

Gyeonggi Province and the organizing committee plan to promote and organize the event so that more than 100,000 people can view or access the fair’s content, as the online non-face-to-face format makes content more accessible.

Specifically, the event will begin with an online opening ceremony on the morning of the 10th of next month, followed by the launch declaration of the Basic Income Local Government Council, a special basic income talk, an international basic income conference, and online exhibitions on basic income and local currency. There will also be abundant side events where visitors can participate and experience directly.

Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung is expected to present the achievements and future vision of basic income policy in his opening remarks. In the afternoon, the "Basic Income Local Government Council Launch Declaration Ceremony" and "Special Basic Income Talk" will take place. Representatives from over 40 local governments nationwide that are promoting or preparing basic income policies will participate online and offline to announce their vision for policy implementation. The special talk will feature Governor Lee and Jeremy Rifkin, a world-renowned economist and civilization critic, discussing "Post-COVID Basic Income."

On the second day, the "Basic Income International Conference" will be held under the main theme "A Fair and Sustainable World with Basic Income!" The conference will feature 26 domestic and international scholars, local government officials, and heads of research institutions from about 10 countries, including Eduardo Suplicy, former Brazilian federal senator; Karen Jooste, former South African parliamentarian; and Annie Miller, co-founder of the Basic Income Earth Network.

The organizing committee will create a "Basic Income and Local Currency Online Exhibition Hall" on the fair’s website in the form of a virtual 3D exhibition hall. Visitors can enter by accessing the "2020 Korea Basic Income Fair" website (www.basicincomefair.gg.go.kr) via PC or mobile.

The online exhibition hall will consist of 17 exhibition halls, including ▲"Basic Income History Hall," which explains the historical background of the basic income agenda; ▲"Basic Income World Hall," which examines the international trends of basic income; ▲"Disaster Basic Income Hall," which reviews the disaster basic income implemented in response to COVID-19; ▲"Basic Income Idea Contest," which exhibits creative ideas about basic income as works; and ▲"Basic Income Film Festival."

The organizing committee plans to open the official website in mid-August before the event so that the public can browse the main exhibits, including the online exhibition hall.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.