Politics · South Korea · 13 hrs ago
South Korean province criticized for recommending one county for basic income pilot
Lawmakers in South Korea’s Gyeongsangnam-do province criticized its government for recommending only Sancheong County for a rural basic income pilot.
The proposed scheme would pay 150,000 won a month to every resident in a participating area.
The province considered nine counties facing population decline, excluding Namhae, which already runs the scheme.
Officials said covering all nine counties would require 1.9 trillion won from the province, an amount it could not afford.
Lawmakers said other counties had been denied a chance to take part and called for a clear explanation of why only Sancheong was recommended.
The province has already sent its recommendation to the national agriculture ministry for the 2027 pilot programme; no further decision is stated.
South Gyeongsang Province recommended Sancheong County alone among nine eligible counties for a 2027 rural basic income pilot.
Members of the provincial assembly criticized the decision during an audit on November 9.
The province said extending the programme to all nine counties would require it to contribute 1.9 trillion won, which it could not afford.
The pilot would pay 150,000 won per month to every resident in participating areas.
Critics said the province had denied other counties the opportunity to apply and called for a clear explanation.
- Who
- South Gyeongsang Province recommended Sancheong County; provincial assembly members criticized the decision.
- What
- The province recommended one county for a rural basic income pilot, although nine counties were eligible.
- When
- The decision was made on November 3, 2026, and criticized during an audit on November 9.
- Where
- South Gyeongsang Province, South Korea.
- Why
- The province cited budget constraints and said covering all nine counties would require a 1.9 trillion won provincial contribution.
South Gyeongsang Province
Critics of the province’s decision
Reason for choosing one county
South Gyeongsang Province
The province said it could not afford the 1.9 trillion won contribution required to cover all nine counties.
Critics of the province’s decision
Critics said there was no application rule limiting the province to recommending one county.
Impact on counties
South Gyeongsang Province
The province said it selected Sancheong County after a review.
Critics of the province’s decision
Critics said other counties were denied the chance to participate and demanded a clear explanation.
South Gyeongsang Province recommended Sancheong County for the 2027 pilot, excluding Namhae County, which was already running the programme.
Provincial assembly members criticized the recommendation during an administrative audit of the province’s agriculture policy bureau.
- Pilot payment
- 150,000 won per month for every resident
- Counties considered
- Nine population-decline counties, excluding Namhae County
- County recommended
- Sancheong County
- Province’s stated cost to cover all nine counties
- 1.9 trillion won
1 source
What people are saying
If we provide rural basic income to all nine counties in South Gyeongsang, the province would have to contribute 1.9 trillion won.
There was no restriction in the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs application documents saying only one place could apply, yet the province recommended only Sancheong County.
It is regrettable that the province did not give them the opportunity to participate in the rural basic income project.
The province must clearly explain to residents how it came to select and recommend only Sancheong County.