Andong-si, Gyeongbuk Supports Successful Return to Farming

Rural Return Startup and Housing Purchase Loans, Settlement Support of 4 Million Won Each for 49 Farms

Andong City Hall.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Gwi-yeol] Andong City in Gyeongbuk Province is promoting various policies to motivate urban residents to return to farming and to ensure their stable settlement.

As a new support project to reduce the initial burden on returning farming households, the city plans to provide support for small-scale house repair costs and farmhouse design fees.

The small-scale house repair support project assists with repairs to housing facilities such as boiler replacement, roof, kitchen, and bathroom improvements. The project cost per individual is up to 5 million KRW.

The farmhouse design fee support project provides assistance for design fees incurred in building new farmhouses for returnees. The project cost is up to 500,000 KRW. Both projects target individuals who have worked in non-agricultural industries in urban areas outside Andong. Heads of households who have lived in Andong for more than one year and whose families have moved to rural areas to actually engage in farming can apply.

A settlement support project that provides funds required for establishing a farming base is also being promoted. Additionally, the return-to-farming startup and house purchase support project, implemented to ensure early stable settlement and the establishment of a self-reliant foundation for returnees, requires applications to be submitted to the local town or township office by February 4. Eligible candidates will be selected after qualification screening.

The settlement support project provides 4 million KRW each to 49 households. The return-to-farming startup and house purchase support project offers loans with an interest rate of 2%, a 5-year grace period, and 10 years of equal repayment. Agricultural startup funds are limited to 300 million KRW per household, and house purchase funds are limited to 75 million KRW per household.

Andong City stated, “We will actively support revitalizing rural areas, where the population is declining due to aging and industrialization, through return-to-farming and rural migration, and enable early settlement of returnees through systematic policy implementation and community harmony.”

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