[Yeouido Interview] Yoon Jun-byeong "Will Become a Blue Ocean for Rural Areas"

"Space Will Ultimately Become Money"
Improving Rural Infrastructure as a Condition for Coexistence with Cities
Focus on Finding Incentives for Actual Births to Address Low Birthrate Issues

"Rural areas will become a blue ocean in the future."

Yoon Jun-byeong, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, recently stated in an interview with Asia Economy, "After a certain period, space will become capital and then money," expressing this outlook. He cited solar power renewable energy as a representative example. To install solar power generation facilities, space is needed, and rural areas are providing installation space while earning considerable income. He said, "Although the rural population is steadily decreasing, the rate of decline is gradually slowing down, and it will stabilize at a certain level, leading to an era where rural and urban areas coexist," adding, "I hope those living in harsh conditions in cities take an interest in rural areas."

Yoon, a member of the National Assembly's Agriculture, Forestry, Livestock, Food, and Maritime Affairs Committee, represents Jeongeup City and Gochang County in North Jeolla Province. Given his legislative focus on improving the poor rural environment?from securing food sources related to agriculture and fisheries to addressing medical services and transportation issues?his prediction of a 'rural blue ocean' is unusual. However, he emphasized, "Since living is not just about money, there must be a premise that basic infrastructure such as living conditions, housing environment, and medical systems are well supported." He explained that if only income is considered, rural areas already have competitiveness, so solving the factors that cause rural areas to be neglected is essential to address the problem of regional extinction. Yoon stressed, "We must prepare for an era where rural and urban areas can coexist," adding, "To this end, it is our duty now to slow down the rapidly declining rural population and improve living conditions in rural areas."

Interview_Yoon Joon-byeong, Member of the Democratic Party of Korea. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

- How should rural areas be transformed?

▲ Currently, there are on average about 40 villages per township. Based on long-term prospects, these should be reorganized into 7 to 8 hub villages. Hub villages should have communal functions, medical facilities, and schools, while the remaining spaces should be repurposed as income sources such as solar power. Although agriculture remains competitive, conditions can be created to generate sufficient non-agricultural income as well. If these improvements continue, it could become a quite promising blue ocean. I believe it is the role of politicians and leaders to create such plans.

- You recently proposed a package bill including amendments to special laws related to rural health care. What is the purpose?

▲ Rural areas are changing in a completely different way from cities. While cities develop various services as people gather and demand increases, rural areas face a vicious cycle as demand decreases. Especially in medical services, privatization has led to businesses failing and doctors leaving rural areas. Public medical support should be provided by local health clinics. For these clinics to operate properly, doctors are needed, but there is a shortage. Even with high pay, doctors are not coming. How to establish a local health care delivery system under current conditions should be decided from the perspective of protecting residents' lives and safety. Institutional consolidation should be carried out to ensure these institutions function properly. Additionally, a supplementary system is needed to provide emergency care when doctors are absent. The issue of training doctors to serve rural areas should be discussed in medical-government consultative bodies. The local health care system should organically guarantee its role through functional integration of health centers and branch clinics.

- Are you promoting legislation to respond to regional extinction?

▲ Cities attract people, leading to demands for more subways and shorter intervals between trains. Conversely, rural areas face a vicious cycle where buses become unprofitable due to declining demand, leading to reduced service frequency and further inconvenience, causing even less usage. A fundamental reassessment of rural transportation is necessary. Urban transportation models cannot support rural transit. It must be redesigned from zero. Using digital and information communication technologies to identify travel demand from origin to destination and respond in a customized manner could be cheaper than operating transport services in areas expected to attract many people. The public sector should be responsible for designing such transportation systems. While cities provide free rides for seniors aged 65 and over, rural areas should also guarantee constitutional rights such as mobility and transportation rights. Additionally, I proposed a bill to improve housing and living environments for rural residents, which was amended in February this year and will be applied from February next year.

- You have received awards related to legislative activities, twice in the 3rd session following the 1st. What is your secret?

▲ During my public service career, I felt a lack of legislative necessity, but in the National Assembly, legislation can be achieved through effort, so I focused on it. Having worked in administration (including as Deputy Mayor of Seoul), I have pursued legislation that reflects meaningful goals and efforts to improve quality of life. When engaging in legislative activities, I consider how the responsible director would perceive the issue and what obstacles might exist, preparing solutions in advance. After organizing these aspects, political skills become necessary.

- Your term is now less than a year left. What will be the focus of your remaining legislative activities?

▲ My focus has been on creating a society that prioritizes the vulnerable. In this spirit, I am interested in issues such as polarization and balanced regional development. I am particularly concerned with addressing low birth rates caused by population decline.

Interview_Yoon Joon-byeong, Member of the Democratic Party of Korea. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

- How should the low birth rate issue be addressed?

▲ I believe the low birth rate issue requires continuous response. Piecemeal, scattered support is outdated. Although it is said that 320 trillion won has been spent on this issue, South Korea still records the lowest birth rate among OECD countries. The allocation of funds should be reviewed, and investments should be made based on accurate assessment of measures that can effectively encourage births. It is difficult to set a vague limit on investment, so a principle should be established where the government provides additional support equal to the difference between the benefits of one birth and the amount of support given. Birth policies must be precise. Furthermore, population-related budget systems should be operated to support the actual implementation of these policies.

"Re-discussion of the Grain Management Act at the September Regular National Assembly" Claim

Yoon predicted that the Grain Management Act, which was discarded after a re-vote following President Yoon Seok-yeol's veto, will be re-discussed at the regular National Assembly session in September this year. Regarding the Grain Management Act, which faced criticism for wasting taxpayers' money, he criticized the government for blocking the act due to excessive concerns despite clear effects in suppressing overproduction through production adjustment (cultivating crops other than rice).

Regarding follow-up legislation on the Grain Management Act, Yoon said, "We are in the process of gathering opinions from farmers' organizations on what content to legislate," adding, "Once opinions are collected, we will propose follow-up legislative measures together during this regular session (after the bill's rejection)." He evaluated President Yoon's veto of the Grain Management Act by saying, "After some time, President Yoon will regret it." The government's opposition to the Grain Management Act was ultimately due to concerns about mandatory spending commitments, but upon examining the actual process, the government's worries were excessive.

Yoon explained, "The success or failure of the Grain Management Act depends on how much overproduction there is and whether production adjustment is implemented," adding, "We initially planned production adjustment for 40,000 hectares, which would eliminate 200,000 tons of overproduction. Demand for production adjustment has now reached 60,000 hectares." He analyzed that production adjustment alone could significantly reduce rice production, so the government’s concern about having to purchase large amounts of surplus rice was unfounded. He claimed, "The government misled the public with inaccurate information," and added, "Currently, 140 billion won is allocated in the budget, but 200 billion won could be adjusted to wheat or soybeans, yet the government made a fuss."

Yoon has proposed three bills related to the Grain Management Act follow-up measures, including the introduction of a rice production cost guarantee system, the revival of target price and variable direct payment systems, and the introduction of an agricultural product price stabilization system. His newly proposed amendment to the Grain Management Act stipulates that when rice prices are lower than the average price, government-managed or publicly stocked rice cannot be sold for general sale. It also requires the government to purchase rice at a price 10% higher than the production cost announced annually if farmers request it.

The Act on the Operation of Direct Payment System for the Promotion of Agricultural and Rural Public Functions includes provisions to introduce target price and variable direct payment systems following the failure of the rice market isolation obligation system. The amendment to the Act on Distribution and Price Stabilization of Agricultural and Fishery Products stipulates that if the price of agricultural and fishery products does not rise by more than 5% compared to the average price, purchased or stockpiled agricultural and fishery products cannot be sold or released, thereby maintaining prices at an appropriate level.

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