Rural Basic Income: Government Funding Rises from 40% to 50%... First Ever 200 Billion Won for Win-Win Cooperation Fund

Kim Ki-cheol of the Gangwon Provincial Council Calls for Reduced Local Financial Burdens
Continued Push for Securing Stable Rural Funding
Expanding National Responsibility for Addressing Rural Decline
"Population Growth and Economic Revitalization in Jeongseon"

The proportion of government funding for the Rural Basic Income Pilot Project will increase from 40% to 50% starting next year. Additionally, a government contribution of 200 billion won will be included for the first time in the Rural-Urban Win-Win Cooperation Fund.

Kim Ki-chul, Member of the Gangwon Provincial Council. Courtesy of Gangwon Provincial Council

Kim Ki-cheol, a member of the Gangwon Provincial Council (People Power Party, Jeongseon), stated on September 7, "We welcome the inclusion of expanded government support and the government's contribution to the Win-Win Cooperation Fund in the 2027 government budget proposal, in response to our continued call for greater support to overcome the crisis in rural areas."

According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs' 2027 budget proposal, the budget for the Rural Basic Income Pilot Project will increase from 304.7 billion won this year, including the supplementary budget, to 1.1658 trillion won next year. The scope of the project will also be expanded from the current 17 counties to 35 counties, which is about half of the 69 counties designated as depopulation areas.

In particular, to reduce the financial burden on local governments, the government funding proportion will be raised from the current 40% to 50%. The government has also included, for the first time, a 200 billion won government contribution for the Rural-Urban Win-Win Cooperation Fund, which had previously relied on voluntary contributions from the private sector.

In February of this year, Councilor Kim highlighted the issue of local government financial burdens related to the rural basic income program during a five-minute address at the Gangwon Provincial Council, and called for increased government support. He has continued to argue for the need to secure stable sources of support for rural areas through revitalization of the Win-Win Cooperation Fund.

Jeongseon County, where the Rural Basic Income Pilot Project is underway, has seen a rise in population and an increase in local consumption. According to resident registration statistics from the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, the population of Jeongseon increased by 1,528 people over ten months, from 33,609 in October 2025 to 35,137 as of August this year.

Of the approximately 39 billion won in basic income provided to Jeongseon County by the end of August this year, about 33 billion won, or 84.6%, was spent within the local area. Councilor Kim explained that basic income is leading to increases in sales for local businesses, new startups and job creation, as well as residents’ income.

The Gangwon Research Institute estimates that the Rural Basic Income Project in Jeongseon County will generate an annual impact of 87.5 billion won in production and added value and create around 700 jobs.

Councilor Kim stated, "The Rural Basic Income goes beyond simple income support—it is a policy to counter the decline of rural areas by encouraging residents to stay and spend in their communities, thus invigorating regional economies. The increase in government funding is significant in that it extends responsibility for the decline of rural settlements beyond just local governments to the national level."

He added, "There were limits to securing stable financial resources for the Rural-Urban Win-Win Cooperation Fund through only private sector contributions. The inclusion of a 200 billion won government contribution for the first time marks an important change."

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