Yeoncheon County Selected for Basic Income Pilot Project for Farming and Fishing Villages... Signal for Local Economic Recovery

Yeoncheon County Achieves Results Through Citizen Participation and Administrative Drive
Starting in 2026, All Residents to Receive 150,000 Won Monthly

Yeoncheon County in Gyeonggi Province (Governor Kim Deokhyeon) announced on the 20th that it has been finally selected for the pilot project of the Basic Income for Farming and Fishing Villages promoted by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.

Yeoncheon County has been finally selected for the pilot project of the Basic Rural Income promoted by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. Photo by Yeoncheon County

This selection is being recognized as an exemplary case of citizen-participatory policy, achieved through four years of cooperation among residents, the local administration, and Gyeonggi Province.

Yeoncheon County has involved its residents from the initial preparation stage of the project application. Through town-level meetings and community briefings, the county shared the purpose and anticipated effects of the project. In addition, a signature campaign with the participation of 18,000 people expressed the hope for special compensation in return for the unique sacrifices made for the introduction of the Basic Income for Farming and Fishing Villages.

The support of Yeoncheon residents, combined with the planning and coordination capabilities of the county administration, led to this successful selection in the project application.

Through this project, from January 2026 to December 30, 2027, all residents who have lived in Yeoncheon County for more than 30 days will receive a monthly Yeoncheon Love Gift Certificate worth 150,000 won. This is expected to stimulate local consumption and help stabilize residents' livelihoods.

Gyeonggi Province has also decided to support 50% of the local government funding with provincial funds, considering Yeoncheon County's financial situation. This will significantly reduce the county's financial burden and support stable project implementation.

Positive responses are being heard on the ground as well.

Mr. A (in his 70s), a resident of Cheongsan-myeon, said, "The Yeoncheon Love Gift Certificate received as basic income is mostly spent locally, such as on agricultural supplies or at restaurants, so the money circulates and ultimately revitalizes the village." He added, "With the expansion of provincial support, the county's financial burden will decrease, and the pace of population decline can also be slowed."

Ms. B (in her 50s), who runs a restaurant in Jeongok-eup, said, "When it was implemented on a trial basis in Cheongsan-myeon, the local commercial district became more vibrant," and added, "This time, since the entire county is included, the effect will be much greater."

Experts believe that Yeoncheon County's case will serve as a new experiment in addressing rural depopulation and restoring local communities.

Going forward, Yeoncheon County plans to enhance the effectiveness of the policy by conducting performance analyses and gathering residents' feedback throughout the implementation process.

Kim Deokhyeon, Governor of Yeoncheon County, stated, "This achievement is the result of working together with our residents. The combination of citizen participation and administrative drive will make Yeoncheon County a role model for the nationwide expansion of the Basic Income for Farming and Fishing Villages. We will continue to move forward together to bring about changes that residents can truly feel."

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