Visit to rural basic income pilot sites Cheongsong and Yeongyang one by one... “It’s important to settle down well.”
“Very useful in preventing extinction of rural and fishing villages… Helpful to households and vitality to local commercial districts.”
Having a soup lunch at the market and communicating with residents and merchants... Inspection of mobile market for daily necessities
(Seoul = Yonhap News) Reporter Seol Seung-eun = On the 31st, President Lee Jae-myung visited Cheongsong and Yeongyang, Gyeongsangbuk-do, pilot areas for basic income in rural areas, to inspect the implementation status and emphasized the will to establish and expand the system.
First, President Lee toured shops around the Jinbo Traditional Market in Jinbo-myeon, Cheongsong-gun, inspected people's livelihoods, and inspected whether there were any changes felt in the region following the implementation of basic income in rural areas, Blue House Spokesperson Kim Seong-wan said in a written briefing.
When President Lee arrived here, residents and merchants welcomed him with applause, and Cheongsong County Mayor Yoon Kyung-hee welcomed him, saying, “This is the first time a president has come since Cheongsong County was created.”
Spokesperson Kim said that one young merchant who met President Lee said, “It’s worth doing business thanks to the basic income,” and other merchants also said, “Sales have increased due to the basic income effect,” and “It’s worth doing business.”
President Lee then had a lunch of beef soup and rice with local small business owners, residents, Governor Yoon, and Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Song Mi-ryeong at a nearby restaurant and exchanged opinions on the effect of basic income in rural areas.
President Lee responded to the opinion that local financial burdens should be eased to expand the system, saying, "I will pay more attention to the financial aspect so that the system can operate more stably."
President Lee then moved to the site of Masil Market, a mobile market operated by Yeongyang-gun for residents who have difficulty purchasing daily necessities.
Yeongyang County Mayor Oh Do-chang also welcomed the visit, saying, “This is the first visit by a president.” He also said, “The population of Yeongyang County has increased for the first time in half a century due to the effect of basic income support.”
President Lee and others laughed out loud when the CEO of the mobile market operator said, “We deliver ordered items directly in the afternoon, and residents say, ‘It’s faster than Coupang.’”
President Lee then held a meeting with residents and small business owners at the Yeondang 1-ri Village Hall, where he also listened to their opinions on basic income in rural areas.
President Lee pointed out, "I almost designed the basic income for rural areas, but it lacks stability because it is a matter of political controversy. Since we do not know when it will disappear and the conclusion varies depending on the person who makes the decision, the big task is to ensure stability through effective operation."
He added, "I am personally confident that this is a project worthy of continued investment of the government budget on a large scale and whether it is that efficient. Considering balanced regional development, preventing the extinction of rural and fishing villages, and providing a comfortable life, it is a very useful project that deserves to be prioritized."
He continued, “It is important that the system is well established in the field, and the role of county governors with authority is important,” and “If the system is established by withstanding residents’ complaints, dissatisfaction, and complaints, later (residents) will understand that this system is working well.”
He also mentioned, "Yangyang, home to the nation's largest wind farm, will be able to use the shared profits earned through renewable energy projects using sunlight as well as wind as a source of basic income."
At this event, President Lee also introduced his connection by saying, “Beyond the mountains of Yeongyang is (my hometown) Andong. When I was young, I remember coming to Yeongyang holding my father’s hand when I had an ear infection.”
After finishing the meeting, President Lee visited Yeongyang Traditional Market and continued communicating with residents.
This visit was not announced in advance, and President Lee personally announced his plan to visit Cheongsong and Yeongyang through X (old Twitter) this morning.
Even after completing his visit, President Lee said at
He emphasized, "No matter where you live, you should be able to enjoy basic life opportunities," and "We need to create rural and fishing villages where existing people can continue to stay and new people can come and settle down."
The basic income for rural and fishing communities is a system that provides 150,000 won in local love gift certificates every month to residents of areas with declining populations in order to prevent rural disappearance. Among the 69 counties designated as areas of population decline, pilot projects are being implemented in 17 counties, including Yeongyang and Cheongsong in Gyeongsangbuk-do.
