Wanju-gun, Second Nationwide to Introduce Village Autonomy Pension

Payment of Pensions to Seniors Aged 75 and Over Using Profits from Renewable Energy Solar Power Facilities

[Wanju=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Han-ho] Wanju County has introduced the village autonomous pension system, becoming the second in the nation to do so.

On the afternoon of the 23rd, Wanju County held a signing ceremony for a "Business Agreement for Supplementing Village Community Retirement Income and Supporting Rural Welfare" at the county office, with the participation of Bongseogol Dogye Village Agricultural Cooperative Corporation, the National Pension Service, and the Foundation for Cooperation between Large, Small and Medium Enterprises and Agriculture and Fisheries.

Attending the agreement ceremony were Park Seong-il, Wanju County Governor; Kim Jae-cheon, Chairman of the County Council; Kim Seong-hoil, Director of Management Support at the National Pension Service; Cho Tae-yong, Head of the Foundation for Cooperation between Large, Small and Medium Enterprises and Agriculture and Fisheries; Lee Il-gu, CEO of Dogye Village Agricultural Cooperative Corporation; and Kim Chang-su, village chief.

The four institutions, including Wanju County, pledged through this agreement to spare no administrative support related to the village autonomous pension, support the installation of solar power generation utilizing the unique capabilities of the partner organizations, and promote a Green New Deal joint project for the establishment and support of community autonomous pensions.

They also committed to executing and managing projects using the rural coexistence fund, performing follow-up management, and cooperating on projects that realize public interest and social value, among five other commitments.

The Wanju-type village autonomous pension support project involves establishing renewable energy solar power facilities and using the generated power revenue (60%) and village community revenue (40%) to pay a monthly pension of around 70,000 to 100,000 KRW to seniors aged 75 and older residing in Dogye Village.

In this case, 34 residents, accounting for more than 25% of the total population of Dogye Village, will benefit from the village autonomous pension.

The village autonomous pension is a project actively promoted by the National Pension Service as part of ESG management, which considers transparent management including eco-friendliness, social responsibility management, and governance improvement. The Foundation for Cooperation between Large, Small and Medium Enterprises and Agriculture and Fisheries supports this process through the rural coexistence fund.

This project, expected to have a "triple effect" by supplementing rural retirement income, improving poverty, overcoming regional population crises, and revitalizing village communities, has a total project cost of 160 million KRW. Wanju County and the Rural Coexistence Cooperation Fund will each support half of the initial cost for establishing the solar power facilities.

After conducting a demand survey for village communities requiring solar power installation, Wanju County selected Bongseogol Dogye Village through its own public contest last month and plans to complete the solar power facility construction by December this year and start paying the village autonomous pension from February next year.

Governor Park Seong-il said, "The village autonomous pension is an alternative that can improve the quality of life for seniors and solve elderly issues in rural areas where aging is accelerating. We expect a significant effect in supplementing village community retirement income, maintaining sustainable village communities, and helping overcome the risk of regional extinction."

Meanwhile, Bongseogol Dogye Village in Wanju County, which is the second nationwide to introduce the village autonomous pension following Seongdangpogu Village in Iksan, is surrounded by Jongnamsan and Seobangsan Mountains and is a transportation hub adjacent to Jeonju. The village has continuously increased income by operating a village enterprise selling kimchi, scorched rice, tofu, and more.

With about 50 households and 130 residents living there, the village has attracted attention by operating the village enterprise to provide birthday meals for seniors over 80, longevity celebration funds for seniors over 85, and scholarships for outstanding students within the village.

Wanju=Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Han-ho stonepeak@asiae.co.kr

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