Kim Se-hoon, the mayor of Hwacheon County in Gangwon Province, has expressed his commitment to achieving an 'income revolution' for residents during his term. Following the implementation of basic income for rural areas, he plans to expand residents' sustainable income sources by linking the sunshine pension with housing, agriculture, and tourism policies.
According to Hwacheon County, as of October 7, a total of 8.777 billion won in Hwacheon Love gift certificates has been issued since the first payment of basic income on August 28, with 6.041 billion won already spent. This represents a usage rate of approximately 68.8%.
The basic income is provided to eligible residents at 150,000 won per person each month in local currency, aimed at alleviating living costs while ensuring that the funds are spent at local businesses. The usage rate in Hwacheon-eup is reported at 80%, while the remaining four myeon show a rate of 62%.
In the 100-day report, the county noted that the population of Hwacheon has increased to 23,028, up by 716 since the selection of the basic income pilot program in June. This marks a recovery of the population above 23,000 for the first time in three years. However, to assess the impact of policies on population growth, factors such as reasons for moving in and out, as well as actual residency, need to be considered.
The next step proposed by Mayor Kim is the Hwacheon-style sunshine pension. This initiative involves establishing solar power facilities on the surface of Paroho Lake and on unused military land, with the generated profits to be distributed equally among residents. The county aims to provide monthly payments of 100,000 to 150,000 won per person within the next three to four years.
If the basic income of 150,000 won is maintained and the sunshine pension is implemented as planned, residents could receive a total of 250,000 to 300,000 won per month, equating to 1 million to 1.2 million won for a family of four. However, these amounts are not yet finalized, as procedures for facility approval, funding, and profit distribution are still pending.
Mayor Kim's income policy focuses on increasing revenue for residents and ensuring that this money circulates within the local economy. His administration's slogan, 'Solid Income, Reliable Welfare, Advancing Hwacheon,' aims to connect basic income, renewable energy profits, and local consumption.
Housing policies are also being developed, with plans to construct 700 medium to large rental units. This initiative aims to secure housing for incoming residents while reducing outflow among existing residents.
The Hwacheon Love gift certificate serves as a tool to connect income policies with local commerce. The county is utilizing local currency not only for basic income but also for festivals, sports events, cultural activities, and rewards. The goal is to create an economic structure where resident income and tourism spending circulate at local businesses.
These principles will also be reflected in the restructuring of the Sancheoneo Festival. The county plans to reorganize the programs for the 2027 Hwacheon Sancheoneo Festival, scheduled for January, based on profitability and contributions to the local economy. There are also plans to increase the scale of Hwacheon Love gift certificates and agricultural product exchange vouchers during the festival period to a maximum of three times the current amount.
Drone technology will be employed to count tourists, and a laser show along the lantern street, as well as drone shows for the opening and closing ceremonies, are being planned. Existing tourist facilities will undergo a comprehensive review to assess usage and operational efficiency. A key challenge is ensuring that visitor spending translates into income for farmers and small business owners.
In agriculture, the county will focus on developing eight key agricultural products, including tomatoes, zucchini, onions, beef, apples, asparagus, ginseng, and cucumbers. Efforts will be made to modernize facilities, respond to climate change, support processing, and improve cattle breeds. Plans are also in place to distribute semi-automatic smart farms for young and second-generation farmers to strengthen production capacity and market access.
Mayor Kim has been actively seeking solutions and funding by engaging with government ministries and the National Assembly. He is exploring agricultural sales channels at the Garak-dong and Guri agricultural wholesale markets and promoting the Sancheoneo Festival and local tourism through visits to Rovaniemi, Finland. This initiative connects his 'Hwacheon Sales' campaign with resident income projects.
The administrative organization has also been restructured. Last month, the county expanded its main office from 2 divisions and 10 departments to 1 division and 2 bureaus with 15 departments. Notably, a new income support department has been established to focus on basic income and sunshine pension initiatives.
Following the implementation of basic income and the establishment of the income support department, the next tasks for Mayor Kim's 'income revolution' include executing the sunshine pension, housing, and sales initiatives.
In education and welfare, the scope of support will be expanded. Starting next year, all second-year middle school students will participate in overseas language training, and all first-year high school students will engage in overseas backpacking trips. The Talent Development Foundation will introduce three types of 'Dream Fulfillment Scholarships' to expand support for graduate students, university students over 25, and military officers pursuing higher education. Plans are also underway to reintroduce childbirth support payments, expand access to public postpartum care facilities, and increase allowances for veterans.
Mayor Kim stated, 'While basic income is important, the greatest achievement is that the hearts of Hwacheon residents are united after the election.' He added, 'Building on this strength, I will ensure that the income revolution, a key promise of my administration, is realized within my term.'
* This article has been translated by AI.
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