Chungnam Ranks No.1 Nationwide as Preferred Area for Returning Fishermen... "Regained After 5 Years"

Last year, Chungnam was chosen as the most preferred region for people returning to fishing villages. It is the first time in five years since 2017 that Chungnam has reclaimed the nationwide number one title for returnees to fishing.

On the 29th, Chungnam Province analyzed the ‘2022 Return to Fishing and Rural Migration Statistics’ from the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and Statistics Korea, revealing that 324 households returned to fishing in Chungnam last year.

Considering that the total number of return-to-fishing households nationwide was 951 last year, 34% of them settled in Chungnam. Additionally, the number of returnees in Chungnam was 370, accounting for 36.2% of the nationwide total of 1,023, making it the largest share both in households and individuals across the country.

Following Chungnam, the number of return-to-fishing households increased in Jeonnam with 297 households, Jeonbuk with 107 households, Gyeongnam with 84 households, Incheon with 45 households, and Gyeongbuk with 34 households.

Among returnees in Chungnam, those in their 60s were the largest group with 130 people (35.1%), followed by those in their 50s with 120 people (32.4%), 40s with 66 people (17.9%), and both those under 30 and over 70 with 27 people each (7.3%).

By city and county, Taean ranked first nationwide with 195 returnees, and Boryeong ranked third with 68 returnees. The second place nationwide was Shinan-gun in Jeonnam with 80 people, fourth was Yeosu-si in Jeonnam with 62 people, and fifth was Buan-gun in Jeonbuk with 55 people.

Chungnam Province analyzes that the easing of entry barriers to fishing villages played a key role in the increase of returnees. In addition, continuous efforts to attract prospective returnees through the Return to Fishing and Rural Migration Support Center, as well as the discovery and promotion of various policies such as fishermen’s allowance support, operation of return-to-fishing schools, and loan support for start-up funds for returnees, were also positive factors.

Building on this momentum, Chungnam Province plans to expand return-to-fishing and rural migration projects reflecting regional characteristics, including ▲ national commercialization of easing entry barriers to fishing villages ▲ creation of collective settlement villages for returnees (20 villages) ▲ operation of return-to-fishing schools (75 people) ▲ operation of fishing village experience and recreation villages (14 locations) ▲ development of regional hub centers (8 locations) ▲ support for youth settlement in fishing villages (26 people) to increase local returnees.

A Chungnam Province official said, “We will spare no support in discovering and promoting return-to-fishing and rural migration projects so that young populations can flow into fishing villages losing vitality due to aging and population decline.”

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