Experiment offers a glimpse into how one of the world’s fastest-aging societies is searching for ways to survive regional decline
In rural counties in central South Korea, residents are being paid simply for living there.
One example is Okcheon in North Chungcheong Province. The farming community, facing long-term population decline, has seen more than 1,000 people move there in just over two weeks.
Behind the sudden surge in such a small town is a state-backed pilot program that provides every resident with what the government calls "rural basic income," with no employment requirement attached.
Under the scheme, residents receive a stipend of 150,000 won ($102) per month for two years, paid in local vouchers.
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