Rural Basic Income (농어촌 기본소득): 7 Additionally Selected Counties Get First Payments on August 28 — 150,000 Won per Resident per Month in Local Love Gift Certificates
Source material is a Korean government announcement (in Korean).
Residents of the 7 counties additionally selected for the Rural Basic Income (농어촌 기본소득) receive 150,000 won per resident per month in Local Love Gift Certificates (지역사랑상품권). Payments begin on August 28 in Gurye, Boseong, Hwacheon, Boeun and Cheongsong counties, on August 31 in Jinan county, and on September 10 in Muju county.
Key facts
| Payment start | Gurye, Boseong, Hwacheon, Boeun and Cheongsong counties August 28 / Jinan county August 31 / Muju county September 10 |
|---|---|
| Target areas | 7 counties: Gurye and Boseong in Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City (전남광주통합특별시), Hwacheon in Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province, Boeun in Chungcheongbuk-do, Jinan and Muju in Jeonbuk Special Self-Governing Province, and Cheongsong in Gyeongsangbuk-do (additionally selected in June 2026) |
| Payment amount | 150,000 won per resident per month (Gurye, Boseong and Cheongsong counties add their own county budgets for 200,000 won per month; Boeun county pays 160,000 won per month) |
| Payment method | Local Love Gift Certificates (지역사랑상품권) |
| Application rate | As of the end of July, 161,851 of 185,192 eligible residents had applied (87.4%); 92.7% as of August 23 |
| Retroactive payment | Residents who have lived there continuously since before June 11, the date the target areas were selected, are paid retroactively from the July amount even if they apply late |
| Usage period | 3 months from the payment date; residents of myeon areas within 6 months |
| Size of the first payment | 56.7 billion won including the retroactive amount for July |
| Inquiries | Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Rural Income Policy Division 044-201-2817 |
Last checked:
On August 25, 2026, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (농림축산식품부) announced that residents of the 7 counties additionally selected for the Rural Basic Income (농어촌 기본소득) pilot project will receive their first payments starting on the 28th of this month. The payment is 150,000 won per resident per month, provided in Local Love Gift Certificates (지역사랑상품권). Gurye, Boseong and Cheongsong counties add their own county budgets for 200,000 won per month, and Boeun county pays 160,000 won per month. The areas added in June are 7 counties: Gurye and Boseong in Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City (전남광주통합특별시), Hwacheon in Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province, Boeun in Chungcheongbuk-do, Jinan and Muju in Jeonbuk Special Self-Governing Province, and Cheongsong in Gyeongsangbuk-do. The first round of payments totals 56.7 billion won including the retroactive amount for July. Gurye, Boseong, Hwacheon, Boeun and Cheongsong counties pay on August 28, Jinan county on August 31, and Muju county from September 10 after completing the transfer of its local currency system.
Background — why this change
Right after the target areas were selected, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and the 7 counties set up Rural Basic Income situation rooms and prepared application and intake systems. They held weekly review meetings to check each county's application status and, centered on eup and myeon community service centers (읍·면 행정복지센터), ran intensive application periods, outreach application and intake services, and a dedicated-official system for each village. Gurye county began accepting applications first on July 10, and application rates by area were recorded at 86.9% in Gurye, 89.6% in Boseong, 76.6% in Hwacheon, 84.1% in Boeun, 85.7% in Jinan, 97.2% in Muju and 91.7% in Cheongsong. The ministry and each county plan to confirm the recipients after checking eligibility requirements such as resident registration and actual residence, and after deliberation and resolution by the eup and myeon committees.
Summaries below are factual notes based on government announcements and primary sources — not evaluations or opinions.
FAQ
How much is paid, and when?
Each resident receives 150,000 won per month in Local Love Gift Certificates (지역사랑상품권). Payments start on August 28 in Gurye, Boseong, Hwacheon, Boeun and Cheongsong counties and on August 31 in Jinan county, while Muju county plans to pay from September 10 after completing the transfer of its local currency system. Gurye, Boseong and Cheongsong counties add their own county budgets for 200,000 won per month, and Boeun county pays 160,000 won per month.
I have not applied yet. Can I still receive it?
Residents who have lived there continuously since before June 11, the date the target areas were selected, are paid retroactively from the July amount even if they apply late. The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and each county plan to inform residents who have not applied through text messages, printed materials and village broadcasts.
How many months are included in the first payment?
Existing residents receive 2 months' worth, the July and August amounts, at the end of August. New arrivals receive 3 months' worth retroactively after their actual residence for 90 days is confirmed.
Where and until when can the gift certificates be used?
They can be used within the living zones and at the merchants designated by each county. The usage period is 3 months from the payment date, and residents of myeon areas may use them within 6 months.