"Yangpyeong’s 30-Year Commitment to Clean Water: Building the Future Through Eco-Friendly Agriculture"

Yangpyeong County: Pioneering the Path and Connecting to the Future
Three Decades of Protecting Water Sources, Proven Success in Eco-Friendly Agriculture
Designated as Korea’s First Special Zone in 2005... Now Preparing for a New Leap Forward with Extension to 2026
Korea Eco-Friendly Farmers National Convention Successfully Held, Sharing Future Vision

Yangpyeong County in Gyeonggi Province has once again affirmed its status as a leading city in eco-friendly agriculture. This achievement is the result of turning the region’s geographical limitations-being home to the Han River’s water source-into an opportunity and pursuing environmentally friendly farming practices for over 30 years.

Eco-friendly Yangpyeong Rice Production Complex Snail Release Event. Provided by Yangpyeong County

According to Yangpyeong County on September 29, since being designated as the nation’s first special zone for eco-friendly agriculture in 2005, Yangpyeong has led the country in both farmer participation and performance indicators, and is now moving forward as a model for the future of agriculture.

Eco-friendly agriculture was not simply a choice, but a strategy to overcome regulatory challenges. Most of the county’s land falls under special measures for water source quality preservation and natural conservation zones in the metropolitan area, making planned development impossible. The county focused on maximizing the public value of agriculture by establishing principles to reduce the use of pesticides and chemical fertilizers and to protect waterfront areas.

The roots of these policies trace back to the 1997 declaration of the “Second Agricultural Revival Movement.” In 1998, the county launched “Yangpyeong Environmental Agriculture-21,” clarifying its direction. In 1999, it established the Eco-Friendly Agriculture College to train specialists, and in 2000, it obtained ISO14001 environmental management system certification, laying an institutional foundation. Residents participated in the “Three No’s Movement” (no use of pesticides, no use of herbicides, and no abandonment of agricultural waste), putting these principles into practice in their daily lives.

The results are proven by the numbers. As of 2024, 28% of all farms in Yangpyeong County (1,634 out of 5,805 farms) have received eco-friendly certification, and 22.5% of cultivated land (1,548 out of 6,852 hectares) is certified. In 2024, sales of eco-friendly agricultural products reached 4,454 tons, amounting to 17.6 billion won.

Since its designation as a special zone, Yangpyeong County has used regulatory exemptions to enhance policy effectiveness. By operating and promoting “car-free streets” through exemptions from the Road Traffic Act, Road Act, and Outdoor Advertising Act, the county has improved the quality and safety of various local festivals. The Yongmunsan Wild Greens Festival, for example, saw its sales grow from 67 million won in 2022 to 157 million won in 2024, demonstrating its growth.

Budget execution has also been stable. In 2024, the county executed 11.2 billion won, exceeding the planned budget of 9.7 billion won for specialized projects, achieving an execution rate of 115%. Yangpyeong has steadily implemented specialized projects in eco-friendly agriculture, including eco-friendly agricultural product certification and county-wide brand promotion, direct farm markets, high-quality eco-friendly agricultural production infrastructure, support for rice snail farming, fostering certified eco-friendly farms and villages, and the dissemination of smart agriculture.

Additionally, the Agricultural Technology Center supports certification, analysis, distribution, and education in an integrated manner, with 10 buildings on a site covering 108,000 square meters.

County Governor Jeon Jinseon of Yangpyeong harvesting rice. Photo by Yangpyeong County

Recently, by revising the eco-friendly agriculture special zone plan, the project period has been extended to 2026, and 15 projects are being promoted-including “developing new sales channels,” “decarbonization farming consulting,” and “support for developing processed eco-friendly food products”-to strengthen a virtuous cycle system encompassing production, distribution, processing, and consumption.

Eco-friendly agriculture in Yangpyeong has taken root throughout the local economy and daily life. Local food direct markets directly connect farmers and consumers, and eco-friendly agricultural products are supplied to public meal services such as schools, establishing stable sales channels. Recently, expansion into online distribution and processed food development has further diversified farm income and revitalized the local economy.

Yangpyeong’s achievements have also been recognized externally. In 2024, the Ministry of Environment designated Yangpyeong as an “Environmental Education City,” evaluating it as a sustainable model where education and policy for eco-friendly carbon neutrality advance together.

These accomplishments were further highlighted at the “2025 Korea Eco-Friendly Farmers National Convention” held in Yangpyeong from September 19 to 20. Under the slogan “Eco-Friendly Agriculture: The Most Beautiful Promise for Our Future,” more than 10,000 eco-friendly farmers from across the country participated, engaging in policy events, academic conferences, crop-specific meetings, exhibitions, hands-on experiences, and farmers’ markets, which also invigorated the local economy.

The county is recognized for sharing the achievements of the past 30 years nationwide through this convention and for presenting future strategies by connecting the value of eco-friendly agriculture to public interests such as carbon neutrality, biodiversity, and water environment conservation.

Furthermore, during the convention, the use of disposable products was completely banned, and approximately 91,000 reusable containers were used, reducing carbon emissions by about 4.3 tons and cutting waste generation by more than 85%. This provided an opportunity for eco-friendly farmers nationwide to experience and promote Yangpyeong’s advanced eco-friendly policies.

In addition, Cho Seunghwan, Yangpyeong County’s ambassador and international environmental activist known as the “Barefoot Man,” held a world record challenge event, standing on ice for 5 hours and 25 minutes to raise awareness about the severity of the climate crisis and the importance of environmental protection. This special performance symbolically demonstrated the significance of eco-friendly agriculture and the determination of farmers to respond to the climate crisis, attracting significant attention.

Yang Jinseon, the governor of Yangpyeong County, promoting Yangpyeong's eco-friendly initiatives. Provided by Yangpyeong County

Jeon Jinseon, Governor of Yangpyeong County, stated, “Eco-friendly agriculture is not a choice for Yangpyeong, but our duty and our future. This national convention served as an opportunity to reflect on the path Yangpyeong has taken and to set a new milestone for eco-friendly agriculture in Korea. We will continue to protect the public value of agriculture and spread sustainable agricultural models in this era of climate crisis.”

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