Lee Jae-myung: "Let's Institutionalize Basic Income Policy Through Joint Cooperation Among Local Governments"

[Suwon Ilbo=Park Nohun Reporter] Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung sent letters on the 6th to 190 local governments nationwide requesting their participation in the Basic Income Local Governments Council, stating that joint efforts are necessary to legislate the basic income policy and establish it institutionally.

In his letter, Governor Lee said, "Through the provision of disaster basic income twice, Gyeonggi Province has confirmed that there is an effect of expanding structurally weakened aggregate demand and alleviating income polarization," and added, "Based on our experience in promoting basic income policy as a welfare-oriented economic policy, we wish to make joint efforts to legislate and institutionally establish the basic income policy, which is emerging as a nationwide issue."

The governor continued, "The Basic Income Local Governments Council is intended for local governments that recognize the necessity of basic income policy to gather and work together to make the policy more universally popularized to the public and further institutionalized legally," and requested participation, saying, "Basic income policy is difficult to implement sustainably with the efforts of local governments alone due to issues such as funding sources. Joint action is necessary, including legislative activities to draw diverse support at the central government level based on legal institutionalization."

The Basic Income Local Governments Council is a consultative body comprising local governments that recognize and share the necessity of basic income policy. Governor Lee Jae-myung of Gyeonggi Province first proposed it at the 40th Meeting of Korea's Governors and Provincial Governors in October 2018.

Subsequently, Gyeonggi Province recruited local governments wishing to participate, and at the first Korea Basic Income Expo held in April 2019, a joint declaration of launch was made with 36 local governments participating.

The following year in September 2020, an official launching ceremony of the Basic Income Local Governments Council was held with 48 local governments participating, and in February of this year, the council's operating regulations were finalized.

The number of local governments expressing intent to participate in the Basic Income Local Governments Council has increased to 53. Gyeonggi Province plans to hold a founding general assembly at the opening ceremony of the '2021 Korea Basic Income Expo' to be held at Kintex Exhibition Hall 1 on the 28th and take joint action for the universalization and legal institutionalization of basic income policy.

Nationwide, there are 243 local governments, including Gyeonggi Province, including metropolitan local governments.