Andong City Council Details Solutions for Rural Job Creation

Interim Report by the Urban-Rural Win-Win Development Research Group
Discussion on Support Measures for Young and Foreign Workers

The Andong City Council's Urban-Rural Win-Win Development Research Group in Gyeongbuk held an interim report meeting on September 8 in the council conference room for the "Research on Creating Rural Jobs and Securing Stable Farming Manpower," where they engaged in in-depth discussions on practical solutions to the rural labor shortage.

Andong City Council in Gyeongbuk is holding an interim report meeting for the research project on creating rural jobs and securing stable farming manpower, and taking a commemorative photo.

More than 20 people attended the meeting, including city council members belonging to the research group, executive officials, and researchers from the contracted research institute. Based on their investigations and analyses so far, the research team presented specific measures such as introducing settlement support funds for young farmers, establishing an agricultural manpower support center, expanding the residential population through revitalizing rural tourism, and ensuring the stable operation of the foreign seasonal worker program.

Kim Changhyun, head of the research group, emphasized, "The shortage of rural labor is an urgent issue that can no longer be postponed," and added, "I hope the policy alternatives discussed today will serve as a foundation for enhancing the future competitiveness of Andong's rural areas."

During the meeting, council members and researchers continued a Q&A session to assess the feasibility of the policy proposals. Participants agreed on the need for customized measures tailored to the realities of the local rural community.

The research group plans to actively incorporate the opinions presented at this interim report meeting and to propose an effective policy blueprint that can ensure the sustainability of Andong's rural areas at the final report meeting.

The labor shortage in Andong's rural areas is not merely a seasonal challenge, but a problem directly linked to the potential disappearance of the region. It is hoped that this discussion, which reflects voices from the field, will lead to actionable solutions rather than empty policy talk.