70% of Returning Farmers and Migrants Satisfied... 5th-Year Returning Farmers' Average Annual Income 35.79 Million KRW

It was found that 7 out of 10 households who returned to farming or rural living are satisfied with their lives. The average annual household income of those with 5 years of farming experience was 35.79 million KRW, nearly 48% higher than in their first year of returning to farming.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs announced the results of the "2023 Survey on Returning to Farming and Rural Living" on the 28th. This survey targeted 6,000 households who returned to farming or rural living in the past five years (2018?2022).

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According to the survey, the 'U-type'?those born in rural areas who lived in the city and then moved to rural areas with personal connections?has increased, accounting for 75.6% of returning farmers and 44.8% of rural returnees. The 'J-type'?those born in rural areas who lived in the city and then moved to rural areas without personal connections (12.3% of returning farmers, 19.0% of rural returnees)?and the 'I-type'?urban natives moving to rural areas (12.1%, 36.2%)?decreased compared to the previous year.

The reasons for returning to farming were ranked as natural environment (30.3%), vision and development potential of agriculture (22.3%), and succession of family business (18.8%). For rural returnees, the reasons were employment outside agriculture (24.9%), emotional relaxation (13.1%), and natural environment (12.1%). Among youth aged 30 and under, the top reason for returning to farming for five consecutive years was 'vision and development potential of agriculture' (34.6%).

It was found that 7 out of 10 households returning to farming or rural living are satisfied with their lifestyle. Regarding relationships with local residents, 69.8% of returning farming households and 52.9% of rural returnee households answered that their relationships are good.

The average annual household income for those with 5 years of farming experience was 35.79 million KRW, and for rural returnee households, it was 42.76 million KRW. Compared to the first-year household income of 24.20 million KRW for returning farmers and 35.81 million KRW for rural returnees, these represent increases of 47.9% and 19.4%, respectively.

The average monthly living expenses for returning farming and rural living households decreased by 29.9% and 17.2% compared to before returning, from 2.34 million KRW and 2.27 million KRW to 1.64 million KRW and 1.88 million KRW, respectively.

The average preparation period was 25.7 months for returning farmers and 15.3 months for rural returnees. During the preparation period, activities such as exploring settlement areas and housing/farmland, securing funds, and attending returning farming and rural living education were conducted.

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