Democratic Party Buyeo County Candidates Urge Selection for Rural Basic Income Pilot Project

by Lee Byungryeol

Published 27 Apr.2026 14:37(KST)

"Solutions to Population Decline Crisis, Energy Pension-Type Model, and Integration with Goodttrae Pay Needed"

Democratic Party preliminary candidate for Buyeo County Governor, Kim Minsoo, along with other preliminary candidates for metropolitan and basic council positions, urged on the 27th that Buyeo County should be selected for the Rural Basic Income Pilot Project in order to overcome the population decline and the crisis of regional extinction.

On this day, the Democratic Party-affiliated preliminary candidates held a press conference in the briefing room of Buyeo County Office, stating, "Buyeo County faces a structural crisis with its population falling below 60,000 and an aging rate exceeding 42%," and emphasized, "The practical solution to this issue is the introduction of a basic income system for rural areas."

On the 27th, Democratic Party preliminary candidates for Buyeo County, Chungnam, running in the local elections this June, demanded the selection of a "Rural Basic Income Pilot Project" to overcome the population decline and regional extinction crisis in Buyeo. / Democratic Party Buyeo Regional Committee

They highlighted, "Led by the Democratic Party, we sponsored the 'Buyeo County Rural Basic Income Support Ordinance' and proactively established an institutional foundation."

As a plan for securing financial resources, they proposed the 'Energy Pension-Type Basic Income' model, which returns profits generated from the creation of renewable energy complexes to county residents.

They explained that this is a structure aimed at achieving both carbon neutrality and fiscal self-reliance.

They also added that, in connection with the local currency 'Goodttrae Pay,' "the distributed basic income can create a consumption structure where the funds circulate within the local market without leaking outside the region."

Preliminary candidate for county governor, Kim Minsoo, stated, "Buyeo was the first in Chungnam to introduce a farmer's allowance in 2019, leading its nationwide expansion," and went on to say, "Through selection as a pilot project, we will establish a standard model for rural basic income."

Democratic Party candidates called on the government and Chungnam Province to ▲fairly evaluate Buyeo's crisis and policy capabilities ▲guarantee substantial provincial funding support, and urged for the selection of Buyeo as a pilot project.