Hwacheon County to Make First Payment of Basic Income for Rural and Fishing Communities... "Government Will Actively Support a New Leap Forward"

[Financial News, Hwacheon = Kim Gi-seop] A total of 22,886 residents of Hwacheon County, the second area in Gangwon State to be selected, will receive a basic income for rural and fishing communities of 150,000 won per person each month for two years.
According to Gangwon State Government on the 28th, a ceremony marking the first payment was held at 9 a.m. that day at the Hwacheon-eup Administrative Welfare Center and Hwacheon Traditional Market. The event was attended by Gangwon State Governor Woo Sang-ho, Hwacheon County governor Kim Se-hun, Gangwon State Assembly member Park Dae-hyeon, officials from the province and county, resident representatives, and merchants from the traditional market.
The basic income for rural and fishing communities is a program that provides residents with a set amount of money in the form of local currency to improve living conditions in rural areas and revitalize the local economy. Hwacheon County was selected as the province's second payment area after Jeongseon County. A total of 62.6 billion won will be invested over the two years from this year through next year, with the national budget covering 40% and the provincial and county budgets covering 30% each.
To prepare for the payments, Hwacheon County formed a 15-member dedicated team on July 1 and enacted an ordinance supporting the basic income for rural and fishing communities on July 30. It then accepted applications from July 13 to 31, verified eligibility, and reviewed them through township and township-level committees before making the first payment on this day. The basic income is provided through card-based or mobile Local Love Gift Certificates. Residents in eup areas can use them for three months starting the month after payment, while residents in myeon areas have six months. New residents who moved in after June 11 will receive retroactive payments after three months of actual residence is confirmed.
At the ceremony, cards were handed to resident representatives to mark the first payment. Governor Woo personally gave the basic income card to a resident eligible for the first payment and encouraged local residents. He and County Governor Kim then wore promotional sashes and walked together from the Hwacheon-eup Administrative Welfare Center to the traditional market to promote greater local spending.
At Hwacheon Traditional Market, stickers were attached to participating stores, and the first purchase was made with a basic income card. Officials from the province and Hwacheon County also joined in shopping at the traditional market.
Kim Dong-sik, head of the agricultural policy division at Gangwon State Government, said, "Basic income paid in local currency can quickly translate into sales for traditional markets and small business owners," adding, "We will continue to communicate closely with people on the ground so that this becomes a starting point for injecting new vitality into the local economy, beyond simple support."
[email protected] Kim Gi-seop Reporter