The Agriculture. Food. Rural Affairs. Oceans. and Fisheries Committee doubled the budget allocated to the rural basic income project. It is due to increasing central government funding and additionally designating five places that had been cut off from the pilot areas.
On the 13th in the afternoon, the committee held a plenary meeting at the National Assembly and approved the 2026 budget bill and fund operation plans for the ministries under its jurisdiction, including the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries.
The main item that day was the rural basic income project. Earlier, the committee's Budget Review Subcommittee decided to increase the government-submitted rural basic income budget of 170.3 billion won by 170.6 billion won to 340.9 billion won. The rural basic income project provides residents of rural areas facing extinction with local gift certificates worth 150,000 won per month. The pilot period is two years from next year to 2027
The committee increased the government's share for the rural basic income. The original government plan was government 40%, metropolitan governments 30%, and basic local governments 30%. However, during the committee's discussions, it was changed to government 50%, metropolitan governments 30%, and basic local governments 20%. A supplementary opinion was also included to withhold national funding allocations if a metropolitan government bears 30% or less.
The pilot areas for the rural basic income were also expanded. The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs last month selected seven out of 69 depopulating areas (Yeoncheon, Gyeonggi; Jeongseon, Gangwon; Cheongyang, South Chungcheong; Sunchang, North Jeolla; Sinan, South Jeolla; Yeongyang, North Gyeongsang; Namhae, South Gyeongsang) as pilot areas. The cut-off areas that can be included as pilot areas are five that passed the first screening: Gokseong, South Jeolla; Okcheon, North Chungcheong; Jangsu, North Jeolla; Jinan, North Jeolla; and Bonghwa, North Gyeongsang.
Committee members argued that the national share should be increased in consideration of local governments' fiscal burdens. Uh Gi-gu, the Democratic Party of Korea committee chair, said at the plenary meeting, "Heads of local governments selected as pilot areas say they cannot possibly operate with only 40% national funding," adding, "At least 80% national funding is needed for the system to run stably."
Even if the budget increase plan passes the standing committee, it must go through the Special Committee on Budget & Accounts and obtain the consent of the Ministry of Economy and Finance. The Ministry of Economy and Finance (MOEF) may also demand adjustments, considering fiscal capacity and the sustainability of the policy.