Government Fails to Establish Basic Guidelines for Improvement of Rural Living Environment for 15 Years

Accelerating Outflow of Rural Population and Increase in Vacant Houses
Seo Samsuk: "Settlement Conditions Worsen in Policy Blind Spot"

Seosamsuk, Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker.

It has been pointed out that key ministries responsible for rural affairs, such as the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, have failed to establish the "Basic Guidelines for Improvement of Living Environment" as stipulated in the Rural and Fishing Village Improvement Act for 15 years, resulting in delays in improving living conditions in rural areas.

According to audit materials submitted by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries to Assemblyman Seo Samsuk of the Democratic Party of Korea (Yeongam, Muan, and Sinan in South Jeolla Province) on October 15, it was revealed that, even 15 years after the 2010 amendment of the law, the relevant ministries have not fulfilled this mandatory requirement.

The current Rural and Fishing Village Improvement Act stipulates that the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs must establish the "Basic Guidelines for Improvement of Living Environment" to present the basic direction for improving rural living conditions. However, this has not been implemented even once.

As a result, the establishment of subordinate plans by local governments has also been insufficient. Out of 226 basic local governments nationwide, only two (0.9%) have established a "Living Environment Improvement Plan," and only 68 (30%) have prepared a "Vacant House Improvement Plan," indicating that systematic development in rural and fishing villages is effectively being neglected.

Amid this policy vacuum, the outflow of population and increase in vacant houses in rural and fishing areas is accelerating. As of 2023, approximately 80,000 (60%) out of a total of 134,000 vacant houses nationwide were concentrated in rural and fishing regions. The rural population is also expected to decline from 9.73 million in 2023 to below 9 million by 2040, creating a vicious cycle of rapidly weakening settlement infrastructure.

There have also been criticisms regarding the lack of clarity in the policy management system. Although the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries was separated during a government restructuring in 2013, the provisions related to the "Basic Guidelines for Improvement of Living Environment" remain under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, leaving fishing village living environment policies in a management blind spot.

Assemblyman Seo stated, "For 15 years, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries have failed to even establish the basic guidelines for rural living environment improvement, worsening settlement conditions and accelerating population outflow and the increase in vacant houses. The explanation that some aspects of living environment improvement have been included under the Framework Act on Agriculture, Rural Community, and Food Industry is merely an administratively convenient response, and they must take clear responsibility for failing to establish the required guidelines."

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