President Lee Visits Cheongsong and Yeongyang, Seeks Policy Answers in Rural Life

Engages with business owners and residents in Jinbo-myeon
Stresses virtuous cycle of rural basic income and local economy
Inspects Yeongyang, where he has maternal family ties
Requests support for correctional facility and North-South Axis 9 Expressway

President Lee Jaemyung visited Cheongsong County and Yeongyang County in North Gyeongsang Province on October 31, inspecting the implementation of the rural and fishing communities basic income pilot project and listening to the views of local residents and business owners.

President Lee Jae-myung visits Cheongsong and Yeongyang to speak with local small business owners and stress the virtuous cycle of basic income for rural and fishing communities. “Money circulates and the local economy comes alive when you spend as much as you receive,” he tells residents, urging them to boost the local economy through consumption. [Photo provided by a reader]

After arriving by helicopter in his hometown of Andong, President Lee visited Jinbo Gaekju Market in Jinbo-myeon, Cheongsong County. He had lunch at a restaurant in the market and met with local business owners and residents to discuss issues affecting their livelihoods.

At around 2 p.m., he then visited Yeondang Village in Ipam-myeon, Yeongyang County, where he discussed changes in residents' lives following the introduction of the rural and fishing communities basic income and ways to stimulate the local economy.

At the Yeondang 1-ri Village Hall, President Lee met with Yeongyang County Mayor Oh Dochang and residents and listened to their views for about an hour. He later toured Seosikji, a traditional garden from the Joseon Dynasty, and visited the Yeongyang Police Station and Yeongyang Traditional Market.

At Yeongyang Traditional Market, he met with business owners and residents, surveyed conditions in the local commercial district, and made purchases.

In his conversations with residents, President Lee stressed the importance of a virtuous economic cycle in which the rural and fishing communities basic income leads to spending within the region.

"You need to spend as much as you receive for money to circulate and the local economy to thrive," President Lee said, urging residents to spend locally.

The rural and fishing communities basic income is a pilot project that provides residents of areas facing population decline with a fixed monthly amount in local currency. Yeongyang County is among the areas selected for the two-year project, which will run from 2026 to 2027.

President Lee also said that establishing the rural and fishing communities basic income on a stable footing was important.

That day, President Lee posted on social media under the title "Weekend Tour," explaining the purpose of his visit: "I came to North Gyeongsang Province to inspect how the rural and fishing communities basic income is being implemented."

The visit also brought to light President Lee's personal ties to Yeongyang County.

President Lee's maternal family home is known as Seochon House, in Cheonggi-ri, Cheonggi-myeon, Yeongyang County. His mother, Gu Homyeong, is said to have stayed there with him as an infant after giving birth.

In 2025, the Yeongyang County Saemaeul Association installed a sign at the site identifying it as the President's maternal family home.

President Lee was born in Dochon-ri, Yean-myeon, Andong, in 1964. He spent his childhood in Andong before moving to Seongnam.

On social media, President Lee recalled the "Song of Gyeongbuk Province Residents," which he used to sing with his childhood friends as they walked along an unpaved road.

He wrote, "It's a song I used to sing at the top of my lungs while trudging along the unpaved road hand in hand with my childhood friends. I still haven't forgotten it."

He added, "It's good to see you, residents of North Gyeongsang Province, and residents of Yeongyang and Cheongsong."

President Lee Jaemyung visited Cheongsong and Yeongyang to speak with local small-business owners and emphasize the virtuous cycle of a basic income for rural and fishing communities. “You need to spend as much as you receive for money to keep circulating and revive the local economy,” he said, speaking with residents about boosting the local economy through spending. [Photo provided by a reader]

Yeongyang County Mayor Oh Dochang reportedly asked President Lee to support key local issues, including attracting a correctional facility and building the North-South Axis 9 Expressway.

Yeongyang County aims to attract workers at the correctional facility and their families to the area, expanding local employment and the consumer base.

The North-South Axis 9 Expressway is a regional transportation network project that will connect Yanggu in Gangwon Province to Yeongcheon in North Gyeongsang Province. It is a key issue for improving transportation access in inland areas of northern North Gyeongsang Province, including Yeongyang.

A banner welcoming President Lee's visit, put up by the Neungseong Gu clan in Yeongyang County [Photo provided by a reader]

Yeongyang County is working with 10 cities and counties in Gangwon and North Gyeongsang provinces to expedite construction of the expressway and has repeatedly urged the government to include it in the Third Highway Construction Plan.

However, it has not been confirmed whether President Lee gave a specific response to Mayor Oh's requests or whether the government has committed to providing support.

During the visit, President Lee went to Jinbo-myeon in Cheongsong, traditional markets in Yeongyang, and village halls to hear residents' views and assess how the rural and fishing communities basic income is being implemented on the ground.

The visit provided an opportunity to assess the effects of the rural and fishing communities basic income on residents' lives and local businesses. An objective evaluation is needed to determine whether income support for residents leads to increased local spending and economic activity, which will help establish the policy's sustainability and effectiveness. Local issues such as expanding transportation networks and improving living conditions also remain under consideration by the government.

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