All 11 Geochang County Council Members Issue Resolution Urging Selection for Rural Basic Income Pilot Program

All 11 council members attend on Oct. 23; council submits resolution to government
Calls for fair review that considers rural realities, including population decline and aging
Emphasizes financial support to boost the local economy and stabilize residents' livelihoods

Geochang County Council in South Gyeongsang Province has urged the government to select Geochang County as a recipient area for the 2027 Rural Basic Income Pilot Program.

With all 11 county council members in attendance on October 23, the council announced a resolution calling for Geochang County to be selected for the 2027 Rural Basic Income Pilot Program. It requested a fair review that takes local conditions into account, along with stable financial support.

The Rural Basic Income Pilot Program, promoted by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, is a policy designed to support the financial stability of rural residents and encourage local consumption.

[Photo provided by Geochang County Council]

Under a call for new participating areas for 2027, the government is considering providing residents of depopulation areas with local love gift certificates worth 150,000 won per month.

The resolution was read aloud by Shin Jung-yang, chair of Geochang County Council's General Affairs Committee.

In the resolution, the council described the challenges facing rural communities, including population decline, aging and the outmigration of young people, and said policy support reflecting the realities of rural areas was needed.

It said the Rural Basic Income could help stabilize residents' livelihoods while also directing spending to local businesses and farms through the use of local love gift certificates.

The council also emphasized that basic income payments could boost local consumption and support the economic activities of local businesses, including small business owners and farmers.

The council argued that the selection process for pilot program areas should fully consider local conditions, including population decline and aging.

It added that the review should comprehensively assess levels of resident participation, plans to strengthen community ties, the effects on local economic circulation and the program's sustainability.

To this end, the council made three requests to the government.

First, it asked the government to select Geochang County as a recipient area for the 2027 Rural Basic Income Pilot Program.

Second, it called for a comprehensive and fair review that reflects regional population structures and living conditions in rural areas.

Third, it requested financial support for the stable operation of the pilot program and continued administrative cooperation from the central government.

Geochang County Council said, "The Rural Basic Income Pilot Program can serve as a policy tool to stabilize residents' livelihoods and revitalize the local economy," adding, "We ask the government to consider Geochang County's local conditions and residents' views in its review of applications."

Meanwhile, Geochang County held a public-private rally that day in front of the county office, with around 200 people, including representatives of local organizations and groups and residents, calling for the county to be selected for the Rural Basic Income Pilot Program.

The county has formed a dedicated task force (TF) and a working-level administrative council to prepare its application, and is drafting a preliminary plan that incorporates input from civic groups.

The council's resolution and the public-private rally are part of local efforts to secure selection for the pilot program. The final decision will be made following the government's review of applications.

With all Geochang County Council members urging the selection of the county for the Rural Basic Income Pilot Program, local efforts to prepare its application are expanding.

However, as selection depends on the government's review, a key challenge will be to provide specific details on the program's impact on the local economy, its financial management and its sustainability.

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