Forty-Nine Counties Apply for Rural Basic Income Pilot Project... Around Six to Be Selected and Announced This Month

Forty-nine out of 69 Population-Declining Counties Apply, Competition Rate at 8.2 to 1
"150,000 Won in Local Gift Certificates" to Be Provided Monthly for Two Years

Forty-nine counties have applied for the "Rural Basic Income Pilot Project," which will provide residents in six population-declining counties with local gift certificates worth 150,000 won per month for two years starting next year. The government plans to select around six counties, resulting in a competition rate of 8.2 to 1.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs announced that 49 counties had applied for the Rural Basic Income Pilot Project by the application deadline on October 13.

Out of the 69 counties designated as population-declining areas, a total of 49 counties (71%) submitted applications. All 10 metropolitan and provincial governments where these 69 counties are located participated in the application process. Despite the fact that most of these population-declining areas face financial difficulties, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs analyzed that there was active participation due to a shared understanding of the project's purpose and necessity.

The Ministry plans to select and announce around six counties as project sites within October, based on the business plans submitted by each region, following a document review and presentation evaluation within the budgetary limits. The Ministry will ensure a fair and objective evaluation through an evaluation committee composed of experts in rural policy and regional development.

The pilot project will be implemented for two years (2026-2027). The government plans to systematically monitor and analyze policy effects such as residents' satisfaction with quality of life, revitalization of the local economy and community, and demographic changes in each region, by establishing a collaborative system with a central research institute and relevant local research institutes. Based on these analyses, the direction of the main project will be reviewed through further social discussion.

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