"Return to Farming and Rural Life in Sancheong-gun" ... Population Increases for 3 Consecutive Years

535 People Moved In During the First Half of This Year
Many Inflows from Ages 50-60, Jinju, Busan, Seoul, and Gyeonggi

Sancheong County Office Signstone

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Choi Soon-kyung] The population of return-to-farm and return-to-village residents in Sancheong-gun, Gyeongnam, has continuously increased over the past three years.

In particular, 535 people moved in during the first half of this year, marking a 40.8% increase compared to 380 people in the same period last year.

According to Sancheong-gun on the 22nd, from 2018 to the first half of 2021, 1,361 households and 2,132 people returned to farming and rural living.

In 2018, 274 households and 379 people moved in; in 2019, 321 households and 511 people; and in 2020, 401 households and 707 people relocated. As of the first half of 2021, 365 households and 535 people have moved their residences to Sancheong-gun.

The age group of return-to-farm and return-to-village residents was predominantly in their 50s and 60s, accounting for 50-60% of all households.

The majority of incoming households came from nearby Jinju City and Busan City. Major cities such as Seoul, Gyeonggi-do, Daegu, and Gimhae followed.

The county has been promoting various support projects for return-to-farm and return-to-village residents every year, including new farmer agricultural settlement support projects, housing repair support projects for returnees, stable settlement support projects for returnees, and operation of returnee houses.

Starting this year, new support projects for settlement and urban resident attraction, such as 'Living in the Countryside Experience,' are being implemented.

The new return-to-farm and return-to-village support projects promoted by the county include Living in the Countryside Experience, rural experience education for returnees, and counseling support projects for returnees.

Lee Jae-geun, the mayor of Sancheong-gun, said, “The reason people choose Sancheong as a new place to live is because of its natural environment blessed with Jirisan Cheonwangbong Peak and Gyeongho River, along with a well-established agricultural base including strawberries, dried persimmons, organic livestock, and medicinal herb industries.” He added, “We will continue to promote differentiated support policies for return-to-farm and return-to-village residents.”

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