Cheongyang County Aims for 50,000 Residents with Rural Basic Income Initiative

Rural Basic Income Pilot Project Expected to Boost Migration
Comprehensive Redesign of Urban and Settlement Strategies

Cheongyang County in South Chungcheong Province has incorporated the selection of a pilot region for the Rural Basic Income project into its '2040 County Master Plan,' taking steps to strengthen the foundation for population inflow.

The county expects that, following the implementation of basic income in 2026, both an increase in new residents and the revitalization of living zones will occur simultaneously. As a result, it is undertaking a comprehensive reorganization of its spatial strategies and plans to expand living SOC (Social Overhead Capital) to align with its population target of 50,000.

In particular, the Rural Basic Income pilot project is emerging as a key variable influencing the overall county master plan, due to the anticipated increase in migration demand and changes in settlement environments.

According to the county on November 28, the provision of Rural Basic Income is expected to enhance the stability of rural life and encourage the migration of both young people and households.

Accordingly, the county plans to actively reflect anticipated changes in population structure in its urban spatial concepts and settlement strategies from the initial planning stage.

The new county master plan is designed with a focus on strengthening rural settlement foundations, balanced regional development, and the expansion of basic living infrastructure.

Through a process involving a 48-member citizen planning group, expert consultations, and administrative coordination, the county finalized its vision as "A Prosperous Self-Sufficient City, Cheongyang-The Happy and Pristine Heart of Chungnam."

To address the era of population decline, the county has set a goal of reaching a resident population of 50,000 by 2040, and has also established urban indicators for housing, transportation, environment, and SOC.

The county anticipates that, following the implementation of basic income, there will be increases in young people returning to rural areas and starting businesses, continued settlement by elderly and vulnerable groups, an expansion in the number of new migrant households, housing stabilization for non-homeowners, and a rise in long-term stays by urban residents. These migration effects are analyzed as the key driving force for achieving the 50,000 population target.

Accordingly, the existing spatial structure has been reorganized into a system with one urban center (Cheongyang-eup), one regional center (Jeongsan-myeon), and three district centers.

The Jeongsan living zone will strengthen industrial and commercial functions, while Cheongyang-eup will further develop administrative, cultural, and educational functions. The township areas will focus on maintaining rural settlement rights and supporting the settled population, establishing compact and network-type living zones.

The county has also included implementation strategies across 10 sectors to ensure that the basic income policy leads to tangible changes in residents' lives.

The main strategies include: customized housing supply to accommodate increased return migration and new residents; strengthening the foundation for processing and distribution of local agricultural specialties; expanding education and welfare programs centered on basic income recipients; supporting the agricultural settlement of returnees and new rural residents; and expanding transportation and SOC in response to an increase in living and transient populations.

To achieve this, the county aims to finalize the plan by December 2026 through public hearings, departmental consultations, coordination with the South Chungcheong provincial government, national land planning evaluations, and review by the provincial urban planning committee.

County Governor Kim Dongon stated, "As an increase in new residents is expected with the implementation of basic income, we will gradually expand infrastructure for housing, education, childcare, jobs, and culture to ensure that population inflow leads to actual settlement."

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