(LEAD) Lee-rural town visit

(ATTN: ADDS Lee's social media post in last 3 paras)

SEOUL, Oct. 31 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Jae Myung visited a southeastern province Saturday to inspect a government pilot program providing a monthly basic income to residents in depopulated rural towns.

Lee shared details of his unannounced trip to North Gyeongsang Province in a social media post, extending greetings to residents in Yeongyang and Cheongsong counties, located in the same province.

The Lee government has introduced the basic income scheme to provide local residents with 150,000 won (US$112) per month in gift vouchers. A total of 69 counties nationwide have been designated as population-declining regions, 17 of which are currently running the pilot program.

"I met with local residents and small business owners and confirmed that the basic income program is supporting their livelihoods and bringing vitality to local commercial districts," Lee said in a social media post following the visit.

The president stressed the need to create farming and fishing communities where existing residents can continue to live and newcomers can settle.

"We will expand the basic income program for rural and fishing communities to more areas and bring about such changes," he added.

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