Sancheong County Launches Its Own Rural and Fishing Village Basic Income Pilot, Paying Residents 50,000 Won a Month

Applications and payments begin October 30; up to 150,000 won over three months through December
Paid in Sancheong Sarang gift certificates to boost local spending and support residents' livelihoods
County also preparing to apply for the government's 2027 rural and fishing village basic income pilot project

Sancheong County in South Gyeongsang Province is launching its own rural and fishing village basic income pilot project, providing residents with 50,000 won per month to address population decline and revitalize the local economy.

The county said that, following about three months of preparations since the launch of its ninth popularly elected administration, it will run the “Sancheong-style Rural and Fishing Village Basic Income Pilot Project” for three months, from October through December.

[Photo provided by Sancheong County] Sancheong County Mayor Yu Myeonghyeon and other county officials pose for a commemorative photo holding signs announcing the launch of the "Sancheong-style Basic Income Pilot Program for Rural and Fishing Communities." Starting on the 30th, the county plans to provide each resident with 50,000 won per month for three months in Sancheong Love Gift Certificates.

The project aims to support residents' livelihoods and boost local spending. It is also intended to prepare for the government's 2027 call for applications for its rural and fishing village basic income pilot project.

Each eligible resident will receive 50,000 won per month for three months, for a maximum of 150,000 won, in Sancheong Sarang gift certificates. The certificates can be used at participating local gift certificate merchants in Sancheong County and must be used within 90 days of the date of issuance.

Eligible residents must be registered as living in Sancheong County as of October 1, 2026, and have lived there for at least 30 days by the date recipients are finalized. Residents who move to Sancheong County after October 1 may apply starting in the month after they move.

Applications for and payments of the October basic income will begin on October 30. Residents wishing to apply can visit the eup or myeon office with jurisdiction over their registered address.

The county also plans to offer a door-to-door application service, with staff visiting villages to make it easier for older residents and those with limited mobility to apply.

This will allow residents who have difficulty visiting an eup or myeon office to apply near their homes.

Through the pilot project, the county plans to review the administrative procedures required to distribute basic income and how the gift certificates are used locally, and to draw on the findings in future policy initiatives.

It will also be important to examine how the support, distributed in the form of local currency, affects local businesses and sales at small businesses.

Sancheong County Governor Yoo Myeong-hyeon said, “The rural and fishing village basic income project is intended to support residents' livelihoods and promote local spending. We will review the preparations for payments and the administrative procedures to ensure residents can use the support without difficulty.”

Meanwhile, Sancheong County is also preparing for the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs' call for applications for its 2027 rural and fishing village basic income pilot project.

The county plans to develop a project proposal reflecting local conditions and outline the need for policy measures to address population decline and revitalize the local economy before applying.

However, the Sancheong-style Rural and Fishing Village Basic Income being launched now is a county-funded initiative and is separate from the government's selection process for its 2027 rural and fishing village basic income pilot project.

Sancheong County's plan to fund basic income for rural and fishing village residents with its own budget before the results of the government's application process draws attention. To assess the policy's sustainability, it will be important to examine in detail the total number of recipients, the required budget, the funding method, and the impact on local spending.

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