Applications open Thursday through Oct. 30; final selections expected by end of December

The Ministry of Interior and Safety said it will accept applications for the third round of its 2026 "Sunshine Income Village" program from Thursday through Oct. 30.

The first round, which closed in May, drew 129 applicants, with 87 villages selected. Interest surged in the second round, which ran through late July, attracting 608 applicants — more than four times the first-round total.

The ministry said the third round is aimed at giving additional opportunities to villages that wanted to participate but missed earlier deadlines, as well as those advised to reapply in a subsequent round. Final selections are planned for the end of December.

Nam Ho-seong, head of the ministry's Sunshine Income Village Task Force, said community interest in the program has been growing rapidly and that many villages are expected to apply in the third round as well. "We will work with relevant ministries and local governments to help as many villages as possible apply and be selected," he said.

Meanwhile, the task force is working toward identifying 700 Sunshine Income Villages this year. Results for second-round applicants are expected to be announced by the end of September, following review by an evaluation committee.

[Official Ministry of Interior and Safety social media]
[Official Ministry of Interior and Safety social media]

thlee@heraldcorp.com