"Try Living in the Countryside"... Experience Life by Staying for Up to 6 Months

Applications Open from the 15th
Move-in to 130 Villages Including Gangjin and Boseong, Jeonnam
Last Year, 125 Households Successfully Relocated to Rural Villages

[Asia Economy Sejong=Reporter Joo Sang-don] The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs announced on the 14th that it will begin recruiting participants for the 2023 'Living in Rural Areas' program starting from the 15th.

'Living in Rural Areas' is a project that provides urban residents who wish to return to farming or rural living with the opportunity to live in rural areas for up to six months, experience jobs and daily life, and interact with local residents.

Participants are provided with accommodations offered by the village and, through programs directly operated by the village, receive agricultural technology education as well as opportunities to experience local jobs and engage with residents.

Last year, the program offered rural living experiences to 882 urban households across 119 villages in 95 cities and counties nationwide, of which 125 households (14.2%) relocated to rural villages.

This year, those wishing to participate can apply through the Comprehensive Center for Returning to Farming and Rural Living website. Once confirmed as participants, they will move into approximately 130 operating villages nationwide, starting with six villages including Gangjin and Boseong in Jeollanam-do from the 2nd of next month.

A total of 102 cities and counties will participate, an increase of seven from last year. The number of operating villages is also expected to reach 130. So far, 51 villages in 47 cities and counties have been selected. The remaining 55 cities and counties plan to complete the selection process by next month.

Park Su-jin, Director of Agricultural Policy at the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, said, "Living in Rural Areas provides urban residents who wish to return to farming or rural living with the opportunity to live directly in rural areas, adapt in advance to the new environment, and interact with local residents, greatly supporting the preparation and execution of returning to farming or rural living. We will support rural migration and settlement by effectively linking urban residents' interest and demand for returning to farming and rural living with local communities."

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