Sancheong County to give residents 50,000 won a month in local vouchers for three months
In short
Sancheong County in Gyeongnam will pay each resident 50,000 won a month in Sancheong Love Gift Certificates from October to December under its own rural basic income pilot, the county said on 21 October. Applications and payment for October begin on 30 October at the township or town office. The county says the pilot is also preparation for a government pilot call run by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.
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Sancheong County in Gyeongnam said on 21 October that it will run its own 'Sancheong-style rural basic income pilot'. Under the plan, the county will pay each resident 50,000 won a month for three months, from October to December, in Sancheong Love Gift Certificates. Asia Economy put the maximum at 150,000 won per person. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
The vouchers can be spent within 90 days at local love gift certificate merchants in Sancheong. Asia Economy said the 90 days run from the date of payment. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
Eligible residents are those registered in Sancheong as of 1 October 2026 who meet a 30-day residence requirement by the date recipients are confirmed. Residents who moved in after 1 October can apply from the following month. Kyunghyang Shinmun gave the number of eligible residents as 32,628, by registered population. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
Application and payment for October start on 30 October. Residents apply in person at the township or town office for their registered address. For elderly and mobility-impaired residents the county also runs visits to villages to take applications. Newsis said this lets them apply without going to the office. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
The county said the pilot also serves as preparation for the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs' government rural basic income pilot call. Newsis described this as the 2027 call, and said the county went through about three months of preparation after the 9th popularly elected local government began. Asia Economy reported that the county will use the pilot to check administrative procedures and how the vouchers are used locally. It added that the county's scheme is separate from whether the government selects Sancheong. Kyunghyang Shinmun reported that the ministry is due to announce third-round pilot areas in early November. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
The county head, Yu Myeong-hyeon (유명현), said rural basic income is an important programme that helps residents' livelihoods and encourages local spending. He said the county would do its best so that the vouchers give real help to small business owners. Kyunghyang Shinmun added that the county paid 200,000 won per person in May as a 'livelihood stability support payment' to revive a local economy hit by high prices and high fuel costs. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
Asia Economy said the total number of recipients, the budget, the funding method and the effect on local spending would need to be checked to judge whether the policy can be sustained. The documents do not give these figures. [ 3 ]
Why it matters
The county is paying out a basic income from its own pilot before any government selection, according to the outlets. Asia Economy said the scheme is separate from the government selection and that its total cost and funding method are not yet clear.
Key facts
- Sancheong County announced its own 'Sancheong-style rural basic income pilot' on 21 October. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Residents are to receive 50,000 won per person per month for three months, October to December, paid as Sancheong Love Gift Certificates. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- The vouchers can be used at local love gift certificate merchants in Sancheong within 90 days. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Eligible residents are registered in Sancheong as of 1 October and meet a 30-day residence requirement by the date recipients are confirmed. People who moved in after 1 October can apply from the following month. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Application and payment for October start on 30 October at the township or town office for the registered address. Village visits for applications are offered to elderly and mobility-impaired residents. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Asia Economy put the maximum at 150,000 won per person over three months. [ 3 ]
- Kyunghyang Shinmun gave the number of eligible residents as 32,628, by registered population. [ 4 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- The county will pay 50,000 won per person per month from October to December in Sancheong Love Gift Certificates. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Eligibility depends on registration in Sancheong as of 1 October 2026 and a 30-day residence requirement; later arrivals can apply from the following month. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- October applications and payment start on 30 October at the township or town office for the registered address, with village visits for elderly and mobility-impaired residents. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- The county is preparing a plan for the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs' government rural basic income pilot call. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
Still unclear
- The total cost of the pilot and how it is funded. No document gives the budget or funding method; Asia Economy said these, and the total number of recipients, need to be confirmed.
- The number of eligible residents. Only Kyunghyang Shinmun gives a figure (32,628, by registered population).
- The effect of the vouchers on local shops and small businesses. Asia Economy said this still needs to be examined.
- Whether Sancheong will be chosen in the government pilot call. Asia Economy said the county's own pilot is separate from the government selection. Kyunghyang Shinmun reported that the ministry plans to announce third-round pilot areas in early November; no other outlet gives this.