'Rural Living' Program Offering 300,000 KRW Monthly Starts... Recruitment on the 19th

Move-in Starts from the 29th... Recruiting 500 Households in 98 Villages across 80 Cities and Counties
"Not Specifically a Return-to-Farming Support Measure, Such as Benefits for Farmland Purchase with Return-to-Farming Prerequisites"

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] The government is launching a 'Living in Rural Areas' program this year with a budget of around 30 billion KRW to encourage returning to farming and rural migration. The goal is to reduce fears about returning to farming by providing opportunities to live in up to two villages within a period of six months. However, this program does not specifically induce returning to farming by offering benefits such as farmland purchase incentives based on residency.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs announced on the 18th that it plans to recruit participants for the 'Living in Rural Areas' program, which will be operated for 500 households across 80 cities and counties nationwide, starting from the 19th, with the program commencing on the 29th. There is no separate participation fee, and a residential and training program lasting up to six months will be provided. Participants who engage for 15 days per month will receive a training allowance of 300,000 KRW.

A distinctive feature of the Living in Rural Areas program is that it includes not only technical education but also job training. Customized services are provided for youth, those in their 40s seeking career changes, and those nearing retirement. There are 36 'return-to-farming' locations focused on technical education, 51 'return-to-rural' locations supporting overall lifestyle and community interaction, and 11 'project participation' locations supporting youth job experience.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs aims to help those wishing to return to farming or rural areas understand the region and build local networks through this program, thereby reducing fears about relocation and aiding settlement. However, the Living in Rural Areas program is not directly linked to specific residency support. A ministry official stated, "This program is designed to reduce trial and error in rural relocation and is not based on farmland purchase. Since real estate transactions occur between individuals, it is difficult for the government to provide extra points or induce transactions based on purchase."

Kim Jeonghee, Director of Agricultural Policy at the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, said, "The interest of urban residents preparing to return to farming or rural areas is shifting from acquiring information and completing education to practical experience of rural life. We expect the Living in Rural Areas program to greatly help reduce trial and error in returning to farming and rural migration and lead to successful settlement in rural areas."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.