September 2025

In Honor of the Basic Income Korea Network (BIKN)

Dear comrades of the Basic Income Korea Network (BIKN),

From the global community of the Basic Income Earth Network (BIEN), we send this message of solidarity and gratitude.

Since 2009, BIKN has stood as a vanguard in Korea, an intellectual force and a moral compass. With rare competence, you have united theory and praxis, critique and construction, advocacy and concrete proposals. In doing so, you have given living form to the ideal of basic income, not as an abstract vision, but as a material force in history.

Your steadfast labor reflects the finest traditions of the progressive movement, combining critique with creativity, and ideals with institutions. This work has also been deeply connected with the journey of President Lee Jae Myung, with whom you have collaborated since his days as Mayor of Seongnam. Through this partnership, the seed of basic income was nurtured from a local experiment into a central theme of national politics, demonstrating the power of committed scholarship and public leadership walking hand in hand.

Today, your work resonates far beyond Korea. It enriches the global struggle for justice and inspires comrades across BIEN to believe that another world is not only possible but already being built.

With members from more than 60 countries, BIEN not only admires your achievements but also sees in you a role model. And we stand ready to support you in every possible way, with the competence and solidarity of our worldwide community.

We honor your role as theorists, builders, and visionaries. Your struggle is our inspiration. Your achievements, our pride.

In solidarity and deep respect,

Dr. Sarath Davala
On behalf of BIEN Community