Samcheok City Appoints Village Mentors, Neighborhood Writers, and Visiting Teachers for Rural Return and Resettlement

On March 17, Samcheok City, Gangwon Province appointed 10 village mentors for returning farmers, 10 neighborhood writers, and 6 visiting teachers to support those hoping to return to farming and newcomers settling in rural areas, as well as to vividly share stories of rural life and the local community. With these appointments, the city is launching full-scale activities for these roles.

Appointment Ceremony for Rural Returnee Village Mentors, Neighborhood Writers, and Visiting Teachers. Provided by Samcheok City.

The village mentors are composed of former returnees who have successfully settled in the region and local residents. Their role is to provide consultations and guidance to prospective returnees on farming techniques, village life, and settlement know-how. Through this, the program aims to reduce the challenges of the initial settlement process and support stable integration into the local community.

The neighborhood writers create content about rural life, farming sites, village stories, and local attractions, using personal blogs or social networking services (SNS). They post these on the integrated platform for returning farmers and rural settlers, called "Greendaero," as well as on their own SNS, thereby promoting the appeal of Samcheok's rural areas to urban residents. In particular, content reflecting the perspectives of actual rural residents is expected to provide practical information for those considering returning to farming and enhance understanding of the local area.

The visiting teachers are graduates of the Samcheok City Rural Return and Resettlement Support Center's educational program. They will deliver educational sessions to returnees and residents in underserved areas. This initiative aims to strengthen the capabilities of returnees, support stable settlement, and further stimulate exchanges between regions and revitalize the local community.

Additionally, a special lecture was organized for the appointees, featuring Choi Minkyu, CEO of Nongchongonggan, on strategies for returning to farming and settling in rural areas. This event was designed to improve content quality and provide an opportunity to strengthen networks among participants.

A Samcheok City official stated, "In 2026, as part of Samcheok City's support project for attracting and assisting returning farmers and rural settlers, we will operate customized programs such as 'Experience Living in Gangwon,' village welcome events, and support for village mentors and clubs. We plan to actively support those wishing to return to farming and new residents," adding, "By encouraging population inflow and stable settlement, we aim to invigorate the region and further promote the return-to-farming and rural resettlement movement."

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