Advocate of Basic Income Concept: Lee Jae-myung's Political Journey

As an important figure in the South Korean political scene, Lee Jae-myung has a notable characteristic in his political career - he is a staunch supporter of the basic income concept. Since taking office as the mayor of Seongnam, Lee Jae-myung began to attempt to implement various forms of basic income programs and has continued to expand the practical scope of this concept throughout his subsequent political career.

In 2016, Lee Jae-myung launched a basic income program for 24-year-olds in Seongnam City, providing an unconditional cash subsidy of 1 million won per person. Despite facing some criticism at the time, the policy achieved unexpected success, not only providing practical economic support to the youth but also boosting local consumption and gaining widespread political support.

During his tenure as the governor of Gyeonggi Province, Lee Jae-myung expanded this plan to a larger scale. He also initiated more experimental projects in rural areas, providing an unconditional allowance of 150,000 won per month to all residents of a village, aiming to study the impact of basic income on various aspects of the social economy.

In the 2022 presidential election, Lee Jae-myung proposed a more comprehensive basic income plan aimed at providing economic support for all South Korean citizens. However, this plan sparked controversy over its funding methods, forcing him to make some adjustments to his original claims. Nevertheless, Lee Jae-myung has consistently insisted on the philosophy of providing basic income to specific groups.

Although he lost by a narrow margin in the 2022 election, Lee Jae-myung did not give up on his ideals. In the 2025 presidential campaign, he proposed the concept of "basic society," which is a blueprint for a more moderate social security system that incorporates elements of basic income.

Lee Jae-myung believes that in an era of rapid development of artificial intelligence and automation technology, traditional employment models are facing challenges. He argues that the benefits brought by technological advancements should be shared by all, rather than monopolized by a few. In his view, basic income is not only a social welfare policy, but also an important means to address the widening gap between the rich and the poor and the transformation of the economic structure.

It is worth noting that the concept of basic income has gained considerable recognition and support in South Korea. Not only have dedicated political parties been established around this idea, but even Lee Jae-myung's political opponents have accepted this concept to some extent. The city of Seoul is also conducting similar income support experiments.

However, there are still many challenges in widely implementing the concept of basic income, including fiscal sustainability and reaching social consensus. Lee Jae-myung's exploration provides valuable experience for innovation in social policy in South Korea and even globally, and it has sparked deep reflection on the future forms of society.

In today's rapidly developing technology, Lee Jae-myung's attempt raises an important question: how can we ensure that everyone can live a dignified life in a future where machines may replace a large amount of human labor? The answer to this question may profoundly impact the future direction of human society.