Goesan County forms public-private team to bid for rural basic income pilot
In short
Goesan County in North Chungcheong Province has set up a public-private consultative body and a working group to pursue selection as a rural basic income pilot area, the county said. The county failed in the first two rounds of bidding, and the government plans to pick 18 more pilot local governments this year on the way to 35 by 2027. County Governor Song In-heon said gathering residents' views and sharing the policy direction are the priority.
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Goesan County in North Chungcheong Province has formed a public-private consultative body and a working group to pursue the rural basic income pilot project, according to reports by Hankook Ilbo and Kyunghyang Shinmun. The county said the two bodies have begun work. [ 1 , 2 ]
The consultative body, which brings together civil society groups in the county, acts as a control tower that gathers residents' opinions on the project and coordinates ways for organisations to cooperate. The working group, made up of residents' representatives and the heads of the county's 11 towns and townships, promotes the scheme on the ground and hears residents' difficulties. [ 1 , 2 ]
Kyunghyang Shinmun reported that Goesan failed in both the first and second rounds of the pilot selection and is now trying for the third. The government plans to select 18 more pilot local governments within the year, aiming to raise the number of pilot areas to 35 by 2027, the newspaper said. Because residents' understanding of the scheme is among the selection criteria, the county treats resident participation as a key variable and plans relay resolution rallies in each town and township to build support from the bottom up, according to the report. [ 2 ]
The county's organising efforts follow a forum on Oct 2 titled “Rural Basic Income: Beyond the Pilot to Nationwide Expansion”, hosted by Deputy Speaker Park Deok-heum's office and the National Assembly Legislation Office. Hankook Ilbo reported that North Chungcheong administrative vice governor Lee Dong-ok and the heads of the four southeastern counties — Goesan, Boeun, Okcheon and Yeongdong — attended and discussed the tasks and solutions for the project. Kyunghyang Shinmun placed the forum at the Boeun Culture Center in Boeun County. [ 1 , 2 ]
Hankook Ilbo reported that the two bodies were launched at the suggestion of County Governor Song In-heon, with local civil groups responding to his call for close cooperation between the administration and residents. Song said the process of uniting the consultative body and the working group to put voices from the field into policy is important, and that the county would concentrate all its capacity on making the project lead to regional development. [ 1 , 2 ]
According to both reports, the county plans to keep developing linked projects so that the rural basic income does not remain a simple cash transfer but feeds into local consumption, higher sales for small businesses and a stronger basis for farmers' self-reliance. [ 1 , 2 ]
Kukmin Ilbo published a headline referring to Shin Yong-han and efforts to have Goesan selected for the rural basic income programme. That outlet carried no article text on the item. [ 3 ]
Why it matters
Selection would make Goesan one of a limited number of rural pilot areas for a basic income scheme, and the county says it would link the payments to local spending and small-business sales. The outcome of the third round, expected under a government plan to add 18 areas this year, will show how much weight organisers place on residents' own participation.
Key facts
- Goesan County formed a public-private consultative body and a working group to pursue the rural basic income pilot project. [ 1 , 2 ]
- The consultative body collects residents' opinions and coordinates cooperation between organisations and groups. [ 1 , 2 ]
- The working group is made up of residents' representatives and heads of the county's 11 towns and townships, and promotes the scheme locally and hears residents' difficulties. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Goesan failed in the first and second rounds of the pilot selection, according to Kyunghyang Shinmun. [ 2 ]
- The government plans to select 18 additional pilot local governments within the year, aiming for 35 by 2027. [ 2 ]
- The two bodies were launched at the suggestion of County Governor Song In-heon. [ 1 ]
- The county says it will keep developing linked projects so the income support feeds into local consumption, small-business sales and farmers' self-reliance. [ 1 , 2 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Goesan County formed a public-private consultative body and a working group for the rural basic income pilot project. [ 1 , 2 ]
- The consultative body acts as a control tower that gathers opinions on major issues and coordinates ways to cooperate, while the working group handles promotion and contact with residents. [ 1 , 2 ]
- County Governor Song In-heon said the process of bringing together residents' views on the ground and sharing the policy direction is important. [ 1 , 2 ]
- The county plans customised linked projects so that the rural basic income leads to local consumption, higher small-business sales and a stronger basis for farmers' self-reliance. [ 1 , 2 ]
Still unclear
- Whether Goesan is selected in the third round of the pilot programme. No document states a selection result; the documents describe only the county's bid and preparations.
- The date the county announced the formation of the two bodies. Hankook Ilbo says the county announced it on Oct 6, while Kyunghyang Shinmun says the county announced it on Oct 7.
- Who Shin Yong-han is and what role he has in the Goesan bid. His name appears only in a Kukmin Ilbo headline, with no article text and no role or statement given.
- The venue of the Oct 2 forum. Kyunghyang Shinmun places it at the Boeun Culture Center in Boeun County, a detail that appears in only one document.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- A forum titled “Rural Basic Income: Beyond the Pilot to Nationwide Expansion” is held, hosted by Deputy Speaker Park Deok-heum's office and the National Assembly Legislation Office, with North Chungcheong administrative vice governor Lee Dong-ok and the heads of Goesan, Boeun, Okcheon and Yeongdong counties attending. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Hankook Ilbo reports the county said it had formed the public-private consultative body and the working group and begun work. [ 1 ]
- Kyunghyang Shinmun reports the county said on Oct 7 that it had formed both bodies, and notes its earlier failed bids and the government's plan to add 18 pilot areas this year. [ 2 ]
- Kukmin Ilbo publishes a headline about Shin Yong-han and efforts to have Goesan selected. [ 3 ]