Public Opinion on Universal Basic Income in South Korea

• In Event: Public Opinion and Democratic Politics in South Korea and Beyond

Abstract

There is growing popular support for universal basic income (UBI) as an alternative to traditional welfare state programs in many parts of the world, including in South Korea, United States, and European countries. This study explores factors that affect support for UBI in South Korea, compared to European countries and the United States.
Although no universal basic income scheme has been introduced at national level in South Korea, there has been some pilot programs at local level, notably in Gyeonggi-do province. The “youth basic income” of 1 million Korean Won (about $900) has been provided to all 24-year-olds in four quarterly installments for a year since April 2019 in the province. Using a unique web survey of 2,000 adults in Gyeonggi-do, Seoul, and Incheon, we explore what individual characteristics explain their support for or objection to basic income. These three regions represent about a half of the South Korean population. We will examine the effects of age, gender, education, income, and ideology on individual understanding of and opinion on UBI in South Korea.
We will also examine whether and how the effects of these individual factors differ between Korea, the United States, and European countries, using data from the European Social Survey and Gallop-Northeastern University Survey. We also examine how direct and indirect experiences of “universal and unconditional” youth basic income of Gyeonggi-do have affected their opinion on UBI. Based on the findings from these surveys, we discuss the political prospects for the introduction of UBI at national level in Korea and other countries.

Author

• Jong-sung You, Gachon University