"Trial and Error in Return-to-Farming and Rural Settlement Policies... Four out of Ten Urban Residents Want Housing Solutions"

Opinions Presented at the Agricultural Special Committee Discussion Reviewing Four Years of the Moon Jae-in Administration's Achievements

Young farmers selected with support from Jinju City. (Photo by Asia Economy DB)

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] Four out of ten urban residents identified housing issues as the top area needing improvement for returning to farming and rural living. There were voices of self-reflection noting that due to a lack of experts, frequent trial and error occurred despite strong enthusiasm.

Experts participating in the "Four Years of Moon Jae-in Government's Agriculture and Rural Policy Achievements and Challenges," hosted on the 27th by the Presidential Committee on Agriculture, Fisheries and Rural Special Affairs and the Policy Planning Committee, assessed that while it was good to promote policies for returning to farming and rural areas, the system needs to be refined more precisely around professional personnel. The policy for returning to farming and rural living is considered a task that must succeed to address the "gray rhino" (a large crisis that could have been resolved) such as regional imbalance between urban and rural areas, youth employment, and rural aging.

Source: Presidential Committee on Agriculture, Fisheries and Rural Policy, Policy Planning Committee

Seong Ju-in, Senior Research Fellow at the Korea Rural Economic Institute (KREI), reported that in a survey on urban residents' demands for agriculture and rural policies, 37.5% chose "affordable housing provision." This was followed by provision of agriculture and rural information (33.7%), customized education and consulting (31.6%), and job support (25.5%).

There were also criticisms that the Moon administration's policies for returning to farming and rural living were somewhat disorganized. Gu Ja-in, Director of the Village Research Institute Ilsogongdo Cooperative, emphasized that policies for returning to farming and rural living should be led by local residents. Director Gu stated, "Compared to Japan, many returnees to farming and rural areas have already entered Korean rural areas, but the stability of village communities has collapsed, and farmland transactions are very active. Conflicts between original residents and newcomers arise due to this instability and fluidity," adding, "It is necessary to establish relationships between urban residents and rural areas in line with the flow of rural areas leading regional changes themselves."

Source: Presidential Committee on Agriculture, Fisheries and Rural Policy, Policy Planning Committee

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