Chairperson Eom Yunsun: "Gangwon Province Sees Only 50 Returnees to Fishing Villages and Rural Areas Annually"

Provincial Council's Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Committee Highlights Issues During Audit of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Bureau
Annual Budget of 948 Million Won Allocated...
"Support Programs for Returnees to Fishing Villages and Rural Areas Lack Effectiveness"

Concerns have been raised regarding the effectiveness of Gangwon Province's support programs for returnees to fishing villages and rural areas, as the average annual number of such returnees remains at only about 50 people, falling short of expectations compared to the allocated budget.

Eom Yunsun, Chairperson of the Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Committee. Provided by Gangwon Provincial Council

According to the "Survey Report on the Status of Returnees to Fishing Villages and Rural Areas" submitted by Gangwon Province to Eom Yunsun, Chairperson of the Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Committee of the Provincial Council, for the 2025 administrative audit, a total of 150 people moved to Gangwon Province as returnees to fishing villages and rural areas over the past three years, from 2022 to 2024.

By year, the numbers were 48 in 2022, followed by 51 in both 2023 and 2024, resulting in an average of 50 people per year.

As of last year, excluding loan support projects, Gangwon Province allocated a total budget of 948.4 million won for four support programs for returnees to fishing villages and rural areas, funded by the national, provincial, and municipal governments. These included: support for attracting urban residents to fishing villages, technical education for urban residents, settlement funds for young fishermen, and mentoring for start-up fishing households.

On November 6, during the 2025 administrative audit for the Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Bureau, Chairperson Eom Yunsun pointed out, "A simple calculation shows that 18.968 million won was spent per returnee," adding, "The support programs for returnees to fishing villages and rural areas have not produced significant results compared to the budget invested, and their cost-effectiveness is low."

Chairperson Eom also emphasized, "The serious aging problem faced by fishing villages in the province is a major obstacle to the sustainable growth and development of the fishing industry," and urged, "Please respond proactively to revitalize fishing village communities by establishing Gangwon Province as the number one destination for returnees to fishing villages and rural areas nationwide."

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