Lee Jae-myung visits Cheongsong, Yeongyang to assess rural basic income program

President Lee Jae-myung visited Cheongsong-gun and Yeongyang-gun in North Gyeongsang Province on Saturday, touring local markets and meeting residents and small business owners to assess the economic impact of the rural basic income program.

According to Cheong Wa Dae, Lee visited the area around Jinbo Traditional Market in Cheongsong-gun — one of the pilot regions for the rural basic income program — stopping at restaurants, a butcher shop, a supermarket, a pharmacy and a hair salon to check on conditions on the ground.

Cheongsong-gun and Yeongyang-gun were designated as pilot regions in June 2026 and October 2025, respectively, and have since distributed 200,000 won ($150) per resident per month in local gift vouchers.

Both areas have seen their populations grow by more than 5 percent since the pilot program began, with commercial sales also rising, signaling a revival in their local economies.

Young merchants at the market said sales had increased and business conditions had improved since the basic income payments began.

Lee held a luncheon meeting with residents and small business owners to exchange views on easing the fiscal burden and expanding the basic income program.

Lee then traveled to Yeondang 1-ri in Yeongyang-gun to observe the operation of Masil Jangteo, a mobile market that brings goods directly to rural communities.

The mobile market uses vehicles to sell and deliver more than 150 types of products — including groceries and daily necessities — to rural residents who have limited access to shops.

Lee held a meeting with residents at the village community center to discuss rural settlement and regional development. Residents said the basic income program was becoming a new driver of population inflow and encouraging people to return to farming and rural life.

"Beyond the mountains from Yeongyang is Andong," Lee said. "I remember coming to Yeongyang as a child, holding my father's hand, because I had an ear infection. For Yeongyang, which is surrounded by mountains and has become an island on land, the basic income could be a new opportunity."

Lee also proposed using shared revenues from renewable energy projects — such as wind and solar power — as a funding source for the basic income program, and urged the community to sustain its interest in the initiative.

Cheongsong-gun County Chief Yun Hui and Yeongyang-gun County Chief Oh Do-chang welcomed Lee, saying it was the first time a president had visited their regions, and briefed him on the changes that had taken place since the basic income program was introduced.

After the meeting, Lee took commemorative photos with elderly villagers before wrapping up the day's schedule with a visit to Yeongyang Traditional Market, where Lee met with merchants and residents.