30 Local Governments Show Interest in Basic Income Council for Regional Governments Proposed by Gyeonggi Province

As Gyeonggi Province pursues cooperation with local governments nationwide to implement basic income policy, 30 local governments have expressed their intention to participate in the Basic Income Council for Regional Governments proposed by Gyeonggi Province.

According to Gyeonggi Province on the 5th, the province conducted a survey over the past month regarding participation in the 'Basic Income Council for Regional Governments' among 243 local governments nationwide. As a result, 30 local governments, including 29 cities and counties within Gyeonggi Province and Ulju County in Ulsan Metropolitan City, have expressed their desire to join.

The Basic Income Council for Regional Governments is an organization that discusses and jointly promotes basic income policy. Governor Lee Jae-myung of Gyeonggi Province proposed the establishment of this council at the '40th Meeting of the Governors of the Republic of Korea' held in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, on October 30th, stating that local governments should unite to promote the expansion of the basic income system.

The province has sent official documents to nationwide metropolitan and basic local governments regarding the establishment of the Basic Income Council for Regional Governments and plans to confirm each local government's participation intentions by year-end.

Governor Lee Jae-myung stated, "The basic income-type land-holding tax being promoted by Gyeonggi Province is a groundbreaking policy that can alleviate the continuously expanding wealth inequality gap," and added, "Before implementing it at the national level, we can start with ordinances from metropolitan local governments." He thus presented implementation measures at the local government level.

Recognizing that many local governments may lack awareness of the basic income system and therefore have not made a decision to join, the province plans to hold nationwide tour briefing sessions on basic income and other related events. After gathering opinions by year-end, the province plans to take procedures such as establishing joint bylaws for council operation starting next year and implement basic income policy at the local government level.