South Korea has expanded its rural basic-income pilot program by adding seven new municipalities to combat regional extinction [1].

This expansion represents a strategic attempt to stabilize struggling rural economies by injecting liquidity directly into the hands of residents. By providing a guaranteed monthly income, local governments hope to improve the quality of life and attract new residents to areas facing severe population decline.

In South Jeolla Province, Guye County and Boseong County are among the latest participants. Guye County mayor-elect Jang Gil-sun said he intends to provide every resident with 300,000 won per month [1]. This initiative comes as Guye County's population has fallen below 30,000 residents [1].

Jang said the payments are intended to serve as a catalyst to raise the quality of life for residents and recover the local economy [1].

Boseong County is implementing a different scale of support. Boseong County mayor Kim Chul-woo said the county will provide residents with 200,000 won per month [1]. This program is scheduled to run for 18 months, with total funding reaching 1.44 trillion won [1].

Kim said the goal is to create a strong economy where money circulates within the region and encourages population inflow into Boseong [1].

With the addition of the seven new municipalities, the pilot program is scaling its reach to test the viability of basic income as a tool for regional survival. In South Jeolla Province alone, the number of pilot municipalities has reached four [1].

Local officials continue to advocate for the full-scale implementation of these programs to prevent the complete collapse of rural infrastructure as younger generations migrate to urban centers.

“Guye County plans to give every resident 300,000 won per month.”

The expansion of the rural basic-income pilot reflects a shift toward direct cash transfers as a primary tool for demographic management. By treating basic income as a 'priming water' for the economy, South Korean local governments are testing whether financial incentives can override the structural pull of mega-cities like Seoul, potentially creating a blueprint for other aging rural societies globally.