PPP Candidate Beomin Park: "Will Do My Best for Selection in Rural Basic Income Pilot Project"

Beom-in Park, People Power Party candidate for Geumsan County Governor (Photo by Seokbong Mo)

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Beomin Park, the People Power Party candidate for Geumsan County Governor, stated, "I will do my utmost to ensure that Geumsan County is selected for this year's Rural Basic Income Pilot Project."

In an interview with The Asia Business Daily on April 28, Park explained, "The government plans to select about five local governments for the pilot project from among the 59 areas not already designated as population-declining regions where the basic income pilot is underway."

He continued, "Last year, the cost-sharing was set at 40% from the national government and 60% from local governments, but since the distribution of funding between the provincial and county budgets was not strictly enforced, even Chungcheongnam-do Province could not participate in the project. As a result, we ultimately did not apply." Park clarified, "There was some misunderstanding regarding Geumsan County's decision not to apply for the Rural Basic Income project."

He added, "However, this year, five counties will be selected for the pilot project, and the funding criteria are clearly defined: 40% from the national government, 30% from the provincial government, and 30% from the county government for the Rural Basic Income project." He emphasized, "I will do everything possible to ensure Geumsan County is chosen."

◆ The Biggest Achievement of the 8th Civil Administration: Attracting a Pumped Storage Power Plant

Park cited the attraction of a pumped storage power plant as the greatest achievement of the 8th civil administration.

He said, "Since the establishment of Geumsan County Government, this is the largest-scale complex project in terms of budget, with 1.6 trillion won being allocated for the construction of the pumped storage power plant. While it took two to three years for other regions to prepare such projects, we succeeded in attracting the plant in just four months."

◆ Selected as a Leading Area for the Educational Advancement Special Zone in 2024

Park expressed pride that Geumsan County has ushered in a new phase in education.

He said, "In the past, people had no choice but to leave Geumsan for education, but now the number of students going to high schools outside the region has significantly decreased. This is thanks to the achievement of being selected as a leading area for the Educational Advancement Special Zone in 2024."

◆ Establishing Geumsan as a Global Festival City and Globalizing the Ginseng Market

Park stated, "The Ginseng Festival attracts as many as 1 million visitors every year. At the Pinnacle Awards hosted by the International Festivals & Events Association, we won three gold medals, one silver, and two bronze in 64 categories, achieving the best results among Korean festivals."

He continued, "In 2023, the Ginseng Festival was elevated to a World Ginseng Festival, and it is meaningful that the California State Assembly designated October 23 as K Ginseng Day. It is also encouraging that Junyoung Kil, the chairman of Liberty Group-a Korean American and Geumsan native entrepreneur-is expanding ginseng stores in the United States."

◆ Geumsan Receives Top Rating for Two Consecutive Years in the Local Extinction Response Fund Evaluation

Park stated, "Geumsan County received the top rating for two consecutive years in the Local Extinction Response Fund evaluation. A key factor was the creation of the Atopy Natural Healing Village, which helped maintain the student population at Sanggok Elementary School, a mountain village school that was facing closure due to a lack of students."

He added, "We have set a goal to grow this to 205 households by 2030. I expect this will help solve the population problem and greatly enhance Geumsan's image."

He said, "The projects that began during the 8th civil administration have started to establish a foundation and yield results, but we have not yet reached a fully satisfactory trajectory. Achieving tangible outcomes based on this experience will be the task for the 9th civil administration," he emphasized.

◆ Integration of Daejeon and Chungnam Is an Opportunity for Geumsan

Park commented, "It is regrettable that the Daejeon-Chungnam integration was canceled due to political conflict. There is talk about trying again in 2028, and I sincerely hope it will happen."

He further explained, "If Daejeon and Chungnam are integrated: ▲ Geumsan will have a chance to produce a member of the National Assembly; ▲ There is a high possibility that Daejeon's subway or tram could be extended to Geumsan, promoting its reputation as a global healthy city; ▲ It would also be possible to attract an advanced industrial complex linked to Daejeon's Daedeok Research Complex to Geumsan."

Finally, he said, "As a first-term county governor during the 8th civil administration, I did my best, but I acknowledge there were some shortcomings and mistakes. If given another opportunity to serve, I will work even closer with the residents."

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