North Jeolla's Muju County said on the 20th it will pay 800,000 won per resident annually as a basic income pilot program.
According to Muju County, the basic income will be paid in the local gift certificate "Muju Love Gift Certificate." Eligible recipients are county residents who had their address registered in Muju by Feb. 2. It will be paid to everyone regardless of residents' income or asset.
Applications for the basic income will be accepted at township Community Service Centers through the 6th of next month. Residents who moved in after the 3rd of this month will receive the basic income once 90 days of actual residence are confirmed.
Oh Hae-dong, the county's Deputy Minister for Planning and Coordination, said, "We are the first county-level local government to provide a basic income," and added, "We expect payment in Muju Love Gift Certificates to give real help to residents' lives and serve as a priming water that injects vitality into the region."
As of January this year, Muju County's population is 22,777. The annual cost to pay the basic income is 18.2 billion won. Muju County said it will fund the payments with its own resources. The county's budget for this year is 462.1 billion won, and its fiscal self-reliance ratio is 9.11%.