Jeonnam Province Rises as the Top Destination for Returning Farmers, Fishermen, and Settlers

Record High Nationwide of 41,861 People in 2020

[Muan=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Yoon Jamin] Jeonnam Province has emerged as the number one destination for returning farmers, fishermen, and rural migrants.

The province announced on the 29th that in 2020, the number of households and individuals relocating to Jeonnam for farming, fishing, and rural living reached 33,026 households and 41,861 people, the highest nationwide, establishing Jeonnam as the top region for such migration.

According to an analysis of the "2020 Returning Farmers, Fishermen, and Rural Migrants Statistics" jointly released by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, and Statistics Korea, Jeonnam had 2,347 returning farming households with 3,108 people, 302 returning fishing households with 387 people, and 30,377 rural migrant households with 38,366 people.

This represents 18.8% of the nation's returning farming households and 33.7% of returning fishing households.

By age group, among the returning farmers, fishermen, and rural migrants, those aged 30 and under numbered 18,274, accounting for 44% of the total.

This demonstrates that young people are increasingly relocating to Jeonnam, a clean region, attracted by the competitiveness of Jeonnam's agriculture, including eco-friendly and smart farming.

Since the 7th local government administration, the province has proactively responded by establishing the nation's first dedicated population department to address population decline, operating the "Jeollanam-do Returning Farming and Fishing Village Comprehensive Support Seoul Center" to attract prospective migrants from metropolitan areas, and pioneering the "Living in Jeonnam" program nationwide.

The province plans to continue expanding the attraction of returning farmers, fishermen, and rural migrants by implementing demand-driven and distinctive policies.

To increase the influx of prospective migrants from large cities, the "Living in the Countryside" project is being expanded, and in March, the "Hampyeong-gun Returning Farming and Rural Migration Stay Support Center" was opened.

Next year, a stay support center will be established in Haenam-gun.

Additionally, to support the stable settlement of returning farmers, fishermen, and rural migrants, loans are provided for startup funds (up to 300 million KRW) and housing purchase funds (up to 75 million KRW), and temporary residences called "Returning Farmers' Houses" (109 locations) are being expanded.

Ten "Returning Farming and Rural Migration Harmony Villages" are being developed, and various efforts such as "visiting mini-explanatory sessions" targeting companies, institutions, and organizations are underway.

Yoon Yeonhwa, Jeonnam Province's Population and Youth Policy Officer, said, "We are working closely with experts, city and county officials, and returning farmer and rural migration organizations to realize Jeonnam as the perfect place for returning farmers and rural migrants," adding, "We expect that those relocating to Jeonnam will bring great vitality to Jeonnam's rural areas and agriculture."

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