"Rural basic income," one of the key pledges of Boseong County Governor Kim Chul-woo, has been realized even before the start of the 9th popularly elected term. Observers say the result clearly proves that the overwhelming choice of Boseong County residents was wise, giving clear justification to a powerful ruling-party governor and his bid for a third term in the June 3 local elections.
Boseong County in South Jeolla Province announced Wednesday that it had been finally selected as a site for the "Rural Basic Income Pilot Program" overseen by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.
The ministry said that day that after reviewing 44 of the 59 counties designated as population-decline areas nationwide, it had finally selected seven counties across the country, including Boseong, as additional pilot program sites.
Following the selection, Boseong County plans to invest a total project cost of 130.4 billion won over 18 months from August 2026 to December 2027 to pay all county residents a rural basic income of 200,000 won per month.
In particular, in addition to the ministry's support standard of 150,000 won per month, Boseong County plans to add 50,000 won per month from its own funds to maximize the effect of the basic income.
The program carries great significance in that the rural basic income, which Governor Kim presented as his No. 1 pledge for the 9th popularly elected term, has led to selection as a national pilot program, securing a foundation for realization even before he takes office.
Amid competition involving 44 counties nationwide, Boseong County earned high marks for the program's necessity, policy completeness, fiscal soundness, and implementation capacity.
Earlier, the county had also distributed livelihood recovery support payments to all county residents twice, in 2025 and 2026. What made these livelihood recovery payments stand out further was that the county preemptively prepared a foundation for the project by securing 66.7 billion won in county funds, including 48.9 billion won from an integrated fiscal stabilization fund, without issuing local bonds—a factor that worked in its favor for the selection.
Governor Kim is also the figure who opened the "800 billion won budget era" for the first time in the county's administrative history. Kim has been moving quickly to bring forward the "1 trillion won budget era" in the 9th popularly elected term.
Going forward, Boseong County plans to swiftly complete administrative procedures centered on a dedicated task force, including enacting related ordinances, preparing a supplementary budget, and verifying recipient eligibility, and to begin paying the basic income in August.
The basic income will be paid in Boseong Love gift certificates to encourage local consumption, while six township areas classified as consumption-vulnerable zones will receive additional cashback benefits, building a virtuous cycle in the local economy.
"This selection for the rural basic income pilot program is a precious achievement that we prepared and created together with county residents starting in the 8th popularly elected term," Governor Kim said. "Through the rural basic income, we will build a virtuous economic cycle in which people return, consumption revives, and the community recovers."
Meanwhile, in this additional public offering for the "Rural Basic Income Pilot Program," Gurye County was selected in South Jeolla Province along with Boseong County.
