Gochang-gun Recruiting 'Residential Agricultural Startup Support Center Trainees'

Published 30 Dec.2022 09:37(KST)

[Gochang=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Jaegil] Gochang-gun, Jeonbuk announced on the 30th that it is recruiting the 6th batch of students for the ‘Residential Agricultural Startup Support Center’ until January 31 next year.

This recruitment is designed to encourage stable settlement through preliminary farming activities such as providing residential space and education for prospective returnees to farming and rural areas.

The eligibility criteria apply to urban residents born after January 1, 1957, who, as of December 31, 2022, have a domestic address under the Resident Registration Act and have lived for more than one year in urban areas (dong) outside farming and fishing villages (eup/myeon).

Selected candidates through document screening and interviews must complete contracts and move in by February 28 next year and will live in the residential facilities for nine months from March to November.

Entrants will receive various education programs such as cultivation technology training for crops, field visits to leading farms, experience in cultivating crops in shared practice houses and communal gardens, and exploration of Gochang-gun’s cultural heritage, providing time to overcome difficulties related to returning to farming and rural life.

In 2022, out of a total of 30 households, 24 entered the program, and 208 hours of agricultural startup education were conducted for the students, with all 24 households completing the course.

This year, Gochang-gun’s settlement rate is 12 households (50%), showing an average settlement rate of 67% over the past five years.

A county official said, “We hope this will be a time for prospective returnees to farming and rural areas to transform their fears about rural life into confidence and happiness, plan their second life, and that many will show interest and apply for the Residential Agricultural Startup Support Center, which achieves great results in revitalizing the local economy through population inflow and rural vitality.”