"160,000 Won Monthly Basic Income": Boeun County Sees 37 New Residents Per Day

Boeun County in North Chungcheong Province has seen an average of 37 people moving into the region per day since it was selected as an additional pilot site for the rural basic income program, which provides 150,000 won per month.

Starting in August, Boeun County plans to provide a total of 160,000 won per month to all residents, including an additional 10,000 won from the Local Extinction Response Fund.

Boeun County announced today (June 22) that 263 people moved into the region during the one-week period from the 11th, when the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs added the county and six other locations nationwide to the pilot program, through the 18th.

During this period, 42 people moved out. Factoring in births (4) and deaths (10), the total population increased by 215, rising from 30,695 to 30,910.

Among the new arrivals, 115 people (43.7%) moved to Boeun-eup, while the rest relocated to the county's 10 other townships.

A Boeun County official stated, "While the selection as a rural basic income pilot site was a major factor, it is interpreted as a result of a combination of incentives for those returning to rural life, such as rental smart farms and the creation of youth villages."

With this, the region's population, which had plummeted to 30,229 last November, raising concerns about falling below the psychological threshold of 30,000, has now seen an upward trend for six consecutive months.

The county official added, "At this current pace, it is expected that the population could recover to 31,000 next month."

The rural basic income program is a system introduced by the government to respond to local extinction.

Pilot projects have been underway since February in 10 regions out of the 69 designated population-decline areas nationwide, including Okcheon in North Chungcheong, Yeoncheon in Gyeonggi, Jeongseon in Gangwon, Cheongyang in South Chungcheong, Sunchang and Jangsu in North Jeolla, Gokseong and Sinan in South Jeolla, Yeongyang in North Gyeongsang, and Namhae in South Gyeongsang.

In addition to these, the government has added seven more locations: Boeun County, Hwacheon County in Gangwon, Jinan and Muju Counties in North Jeolla, Gurye and Boseong Counties in South Jeolla, and Cheongsong County in North Gyeongsang.

(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.