Gyeongnam Assembly Member Ryu Kyungwan Shaves Head ... "Full Restoration of Provincial Funding for Namhae Basic Income Pilot Project Needed"

by Lee Seryeong

Published 09 Dec.2025 12:06(KST)

Ryu Kyungwan, a member of the Gyeongnam Provincial Assembly, shaved his head to demand the full restoration of the provincial budget allocation of 12.6 billion won for the basic income pilot project in his constituency, Namhae County.

On the morning of December 9, in front of the provincial assembly building, Ryu stated, "I am here to convey the desperate pleas of residents who are struggling in the face of the existential crisis of local extinction."

He continued, "While my hair will eventually grow back, the hope of rural communities, once broken, may never recover. That is why I chose shaving my head as my final means of appeal today."

Ryu Kyungwan, a member of the Gyeongnam Provincial Assembly, is shaving his head to urge the full restoration of Gyeongnam Province's share of the budget for the pilot project of basic income for farming and fishing villages in Namhae County. Photo by Lee Seryung

He emphasized, "The rural basic income is neither a simple populist budget project nor a government-led policy. It is the hard-earned result of grassroots autonomy, where residents, standing on the brink due to population decline, formed organizations, held intense debates, and fought to secure this from the government."

He added, "On December 3, the standing committee delivered the shocking news that the entire provincial budget allocation had been slashed. At the moment when the tower of hope, built with the residents' sweat and tears, was collapsing, the sense of frustration and loss in the field was indescribable."

He also said, "Of course, the National Assembly's supplementary opinions are important, but they cannot take precedence over the residents' right to survival."

Ryu argued, "The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs has left the door open for discussions with local governments, and the Gyeongnam provincial administration also pledged to work with other provinces to persuade the central government. So why is the assembly giving up first, slashing the budget and discarding its bargaining chip with the government? The budget must remain intact for negotiations to be possible. The current cut is equivalent to voluntarily throwing away the assembly's leverage in negotiations with the government."

He appealed, "Do not focus on Ryu Kyungwan as an individual, but look at the lined faces of the farmers and fishermen who are struggling to protect their livelihoods in the face of extinction. Please do not crush the desperate hopes of the residents to revitalize rural communities."

Ryu Kyungwan, a member of the Gyeongnam Provincial Assembly, is urging the full restoration of Gyeongnam Province's contribution to the Namhae County Rural Basic Income Pilot Project after shaving his head, together with the Gyeongnam Federation for Rural Basic Income Movement and the Namhae County Rural Basic Income Promotion Coalition. Photo by Lee Seryung

The 'Rural Basic Income Pilot Project' is an initiative led by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, targeting counties at risk of extinction due to population decline and rapid aging.

All residents registered in the pilot area will receive a basic income in the form of local gift certificates worth 150,000 won per month, totaling 1.8 million won annually, for two years from 2026 to 2027 during the pilot period.

The total budget for the rural basic income project in Namhae County, which was selected as a pilot area, is 70.2 billion won.

Previously, Gyeongnam Province had decided not to provide provincial funding for the pilot project due to increased fiscal pressure from spending on recovery in areas affected by severe flooding in July, next year's increase in subsidies for farmers and fishermen, and the allocation of provincial funds to livelihood recovery consumption coupons. After much deliberation, the province decided to cover 18% of the total 60% local government share, instead of the full 30% initially required.

As a result, the government will cover 20.88 billion won (40%), the province will provide 12.636 billion won (18%), and Namhae County will contribute 29.484 billion won (42%).

However, the National Assembly attached a supplementary opinion during the budget review for the rural basic income pilot project, stating that the funding ratio should be 40% from the central government, 30% from the province, and 30% from the county. The Assembly warned that if the province does not provide at least 30%, the central government will withhold its share.

On December 3, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Maritime Affairs Committee of the provincial assembly cut the entire provincial funding for this project during the preliminary review of the new year's budget submitted by Gyeongnam Province, and passed it on to the Special Budget and Accounts Committee.

The main reasons for the budget cut were the heavy fiscal burden on local governments, potential side effects such as residents falsely changing their address to receive basic income, population outflow from other cities and counties, questions about the effectiveness of cash distribution policies, and concerns that it is a populist policy benefiting only specific areas among the 11 population-declining regions in the province.

Additionally, it was reported that the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs notified Gyeongnam Province and other local governments of the National Assembly's supplementary opinion via an official document, which was also taken into consideration.

If the budget reflected by the province is entirely cut by the Special Budget and Accounts Committee under these circumstances, the basic income project in Namhae County could be scrapped.

The Special Budget and Accounts Committee of the provincial assembly will decide whether to restore the provincial funding for the project, finalize the revised budget bill by December 10, and submit it to the plenary session.