Areas Eligible for Basic Income in Rural Areas Expanded to Double… 100,000 KRW ‘Health Care Cost’ for Self-Employed Individuals’ Health Checkups

The government introduced a substantial expansion of targeted basic income to rural areas called 'C(K)-type income disparity mitigation' as a key initiative in its budget for next year. This plan includes providing monthly welfare grants of ₩15 million for residents of rural areas experiencing population decline, and doubling the monthly assistance of ₩50,000 for self-employed individuals without employment insurance coverage.

Additionally, the government plans to expand the rural basic income pilot program from 17 to 35 counties, affecting half of the total 69 regions in need. The increased budget for these initiatives is expected to reach ₩27 trillion in 2023, representing a 9.3% increase over the current year's budget. However, critics argue that the government's commitment to extensive welfare programs is lacking, given that the growth in social security spending does not match the overall increase in government expenditures.