President Lee Jae Myung transplants rice seedlings using a rice-planting machine in Sobo-myeon, Gunwi-gun, Daegu, on May 15. [Yonhap]
President Lee Jae Myung transplants rice seedlings using a rice-planting machine in Sobo-myeon, Gunwi-gun, Daegu, on May 15. [Yonhap]

President Lee Jae Myung traveled to the provinces Saturday to inspect how the rural basic income program is being carried out, his office said.

Lee posted a message on X (formerly Twitter) under the heading "Weekend tour," greeting residents of North Gyeongsang Province and the counties of Yeongyang and Cheongsong-gun. A video showing rural scenery was attached to the post.

The visit to North Gyeongsang Province was not announced in advance.

In the post, Lee quoted lyrics from the "Song of North Gyeongsang Residents" and wrote that he still remembers singing it at the top of his lungs while walking along a country road with childhood friends. Lee's hometown is Andong, in North Gyeongsang Province.

The rural basic income program provides 150,000 won ($112) per month in local gift vouchers to residents of areas designated as population-decline zones, as a measure to slow rural depopulation. Of the 69 counties designated as such zones, 17 — including Yeongyang and Cheongsong-gun in North Gyeongsang Province — are currently running pilot projects.


sang@heraldcorp.com