Shinan-gun Surpasses 10 Billion Won in Sunlight Pension After 3 Years

Responding to Climate Change and Population Decline with Renewable Energy

Since announcing the ‘Renewable Energy Development Profit Sharing Policy’ in 2018, Shinan-gun, Jeollanam-do, began paying sunlight pensions to local residents on April 26, 2021. When payments are made by the Renewable Energy Cooperative on the 26th of this month, the total sunlight pension will surpass 10 billion KRW in just three years.

According to the county on the 23rd, in October 2018, Shinan-gun became the first in the nation to enact the ‘Ordinance on Sharing Renewable Energy Development Profits in Shinan-gun,’ which allows local residents and solar power operators to share the profits from renewable energy development. The core of the ordinance is that solar power operators do not keep all development profits but share them with residents.

Through this ordinance, local acceptance for the distribution and expansion of renewable energy was secured, and residents’ perceptions of solar and wind power have greatly improved.

On May 3rd, a commemorative ceremony for the nation's first Sunlight Child Allowance was held in Sinan-gun, followed by a group photo. [Photo by Sinan-gun]

Additionally, the population of Shinan, which is included in the high-risk group facing population aging and local extinction, has increased for the first time in seven years since 2014. The population slightly increased mainly in areas receiving sunlight pensions, with a net increase of 248 people as of September last year.

The areas receiving sunlight pensions include five locations: Anjwa, Jara, Jido, Saokdo, and Imjado, benefiting a total of 10,775 households (38,126 people). Including Bigeum-myeon, where construction is currently underway, and Sinui-myeon and Jeungdo-myeon, where construction is planned, it is expected that by next year, 45% of the population will be eligible for sunlight pension payments.

The amount of sunlight pension payments has rapidly increased each year: 1.7 billion KRW at the first payment in 2021, 3.6 billion KRW in 2022, and 4.7 billion KRW through the third quarter of 2023. To commemorate reaching 10 billion KRW in sunlight pensions, a monument is planned.

Furthermore, through the revised ‘Ordinance on Sharing Renewable Energy Development Profits in Shinan-gun,’ which took effect on October 19, 2022, the basis for paying sunlight child allowances was established. In May last year, the Renewable Energy Cooperative Federation paid approximately 400,000 KRW per child to about 2,000 children under 18 years old in Shinan-gun. Next year, the plan is to pay 800,000 KRW per child, with a goal of eventually providing 100,000 KRW per month, totaling 1.2 million KRW annually.

A county official stated, “There were many difficulties in the early stages of implementing the renewable energy development profit-sharing policy, but thanks to the residents’ trust and cooperation with the county’s policy, the current sunlight pension has become a reality. By 2030, with the establishment of an 8.2 GW offshore wind farm, an annual income of 300 billion KRW will be generated for residents, and a wind pension of 6 million KRW per person annually will be provided to 40,000 residents, offering basic income to the citizens.”

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