Hadong County Residents Take the Lead... Full-Scale Launch of ‘Happy Village’ Project for Returning and New Farmers

Hadong County in South Gyeongsang Province has launched a warm initiative to connect city dwellers with rural villages. The project, titled "Resident-Led Happy Villages for Returning and New Farmers," involves local residents directly welcoming and supporting those who wish to move to the countryside.

This project is being implemented by selecting and supporting five villages that will operate experience-based events highlighting their unique local characteristics. The goal is to help city residents discover the possibility of settling down in a new rural environment by experiencing village life firsthand.

Hadong continues to see a steady influx of people. Last year, 1,809 people moved to Hadong for farming or rural living, accounting for 4.5% of the total population. However, the situation remains challenging. During the same period, the population decreased by 791, dropping below the 40,000 mark. Structural population decline continues, with more people moving out than in, and deaths outnumbering births.

Hadong County, Group Photo of Rural Experience Program

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The crisis is most acutely felt in the villages. The number of vacant houses is rising, there are fewer people to work together, and even daily greetings among neighbors are becoming rare. If the population does not increase, the villages will inevitably face extinction. The sense of urgency is palpable.

This urgency has motivated the residents to take action. Villages have started to take the lead in inviting prospective newcomers and showing them what their rural lives are like, seeking answers through direct involvement.

The programs reflect the distinctive identity of each village. Beginning on April 4, with the "Spring Greens Festival" in Seongdu Village, Agyang-myeon and the "Farming Experience Event" in Machi Village, Hoengcheon-myeon, a diverse range of experiences will continue throughout the year.

Seongdu Village (village head Lee Soonseok) will run the "One Night, Two Days Farming Experience" program twice. In April, it will host the "Spring Greens Festival - Foraging Spring Greens, Enjoying Flower Viewing, and Spending a Night in the Village." In September, it will offer the "Under the Village Starlight" program, featuring a homecoming experience. The event will include activities such as clearing family graves, paying respects to ancestors, and playing traditional Yutnori games in the village yard, aiming to evoke a longing for returning home.

Machi Village in Hoengcheon-myeon (village head Kim Hyein) has planned a "Farming Experience Event and Village Festival for New Residents." The program encourages urban participation by linking seasonal farming experiences-such as harvesting bracken, plums, and persimmons-with spring, summer, and autumn village festivals.

Shimok Village in Cheongam-myeon (village head Kim Yongjae) will hold the "Midsummer Night Lantern Path Festival," centered around the "Deung-gye" community tradition dating back to 1957. "Deung-gye" is a village culture where residents would gather lanterns at mourning houses to light up the night. The event will include a lantern walk through the village and a recreation of the traditional chicken soup shared during autumn rice threshing, passing on the warmth of community spirit.

Ipseok Village in Agyang-myeon (village head Moon Hakseon) will present "Sing Again Hadong" at the Hyungjebong Tavern. The centerpiece is a contest titled "My Healing Song to Soothe a Weary Life, Sung in Hadong." The event also features making and sharing a giant bibimbap, an Agyang Makgeolli tasting, and a visit to the village art museum, creating a platform for exchange and interaction.

Hangye Village in Okjong-myeon (village head Lee Minrae) will offer the "Meeting Hangye Village on the Yeonriji Pine Tree Path" program in the first half of the year. Participants can enjoy a village walk and experience picking strawberries and making jam, showcasing the appeal of local agriculture. Okjong-myeon is renowned as the nation's top strawberry-producing region, with consistent demand for new farmers moving in.

The head of the Hadong County Center for Returning and New Farmers stated, "This is a way for villages to take the initiative in attracting and welcoming people, and if participating city dwellers decide to settle there, it will feel like their hometown. Each village is playing the role of a support center for returning and new farmers, aiming to create a structure that overcomes the crisis of population decline."

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