Hadong-gun rallies behind bid for rural basic income pilot program

Hadong-gun in South Gyeongsang Province has launched an all-out campaign to win selection for the government's rural basic income pilot program, with the county administration, county council and residents joining forces. If selected, all residents registered in Hadong-gun for 30 or more days would receive a monthly basic income of 150,000 won ($110).

According to Hadong-gun, the county held a "rural basic income bid rally" and a resident signature drive Thursday at sports festivals in Hadong-eup and Okjong-myeon. The Hadong-gun County Council also adopted a resolution urging the county's selection at a plenary session of an extraordinary meeting, pledging administrative and fiscal cooperation including budget review.

The government's rural basic income pilot program targets areas with declining populations and aims to halt regional depopulation and revitalize local economies. The government recently announced an expansion of eligible areas to 35 counties, with around 18 additional counties to be newly designated through a supplementary application process.

Hadong-gun envisions an annual program budget of 76.4 billion won ($56.2 million), to be funded with the central government covering 50 percent, the provincial government 25 percent and the county 25 percent. All residents with their address registered in Hadong-gun for at least 30 days and actually living there would be eligible.

The basic income would be distributed not as cash but as "Hadong Love gift certificates" — prepaid cards or mobile vouchers — to encourage spending within the county. To prevent consumption from concentrating in specific towns or commercial districts, spending outside the county would be subject to limits. The county also plans to link the program to resident-led cooperatives and social enterprises providing care, transportation and local food services, creating a structure in which money circulates within the community.

Earlier, the county established a dedicated "rural basic income task force" within its planning and budget division Monday to begin preparing its application. Going forward, the county plans to continue its countywide signature drive and bid rallies through a traveling "field county office" visiting all 13 towns and townships, along with resident briefings and civic organization meetings.

"The rural basic income program goes beyond simple benefit payments — it is a comprehensive policy linking the revitalization of local commerce, job creation and community renewal," a Hadong-gun official said. "We will do our utmost to secure selection by building broad public consensus and developing a differentiated, locally tailored model."