Kim Dong-yeon, "Guarantee Basic Rights of Farmers and Fishermen"... Announces 'Four Major Agricultural and Fisheries Policy Pledges'

Utilization of Local Agricultural Products, Establishment of Workforce Brokerage Center, Expansion of Support for Returning to Farming and Agricultural Settlement

Kim Dong-yeon, Democratic Party of Korea Candidate for Governor of Gyeonggi Province [Kim Dong-yeon Candidate Election Camp]

[Asia Economy Reporter La Young-cheol] Kim Dong-yeon, the Democratic Party candidate for Gyeonggi Province governor, announced the 'Four Major Agricultural and Fisheries Policy Pledges.'

On the 22nd, Kim cited Dasan Jeong Yak-yong's 'Samnong (Three Rural) Policy' on Facebook and presented directions for rural areas, including resolving agricultural and fishing village issues, green carbon agriculture, and food security.

Kim plans to expand the 'Basic Rural Income,' currently piloted in Cheongsan-myeon, Yeoncheon-gun, a depopulated area, to other rural regions, and also expand the 'Basic Farmer Income' paid in 17 cities and counties, focusing on closing the income gap between urban and rural areas and preventing regional extinction.

He also promised to increase the allowances for village chiefs and community leaders, considering balanced regional development and difficulties in rural areas, and to improve living areas in towns and townships through the 'Rural Regeneration New Deal Project,' including creating basic service spaces such as public baths and beauty salons.

Key pledges also include establishing a 'Dedicated Department for Women Farmers' to improve the socio-economic status of female agricultural workers and guaranteeing the basic right to food for Gyeonggi residents to prevent wealth disparity from leading to health disparities.

For residents facing temporary poverty crises due to layoffs or business closures, he plans to introduce an 'Emergency Meal Care System' to provide food such as eco-friendly agricultural products and seasonal fruits.

He promised to expand the 'Gyeonggi Province Children's Healthy Fruit Supply' project for dual-income and single-parent families and increase the supply of eco-friendly agricultural products and local food in public meal services.

In response to the climate crisis era, he pledged to reduce the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides by expanding eco-friendly cultivation areas and organic farming, and to expand the integrated public nutrient management system and establish a foundation for using livestock manure compost.

He also announced plans to completely reform renewable energy business methods using solar and wind power at rural renewable energy industry hubs and to foster 'Profit-Making Energy Villages' led by village communities.

The plan is to sell electricity produced in each village through an energy highway and pay farmers with pensions from sunlight, wind, and bioenergy.

To solve the labor shortage in rural areas, he pledged to establish a metropolitan-level manpower brokerage center and expand farming settlement support projects to nurture future agricultural actors such as youth, returnees to farming, and successor farmers.

Kim said, "Agriculture and fisheries are strategic industries that form the foundation of the country’s food security," and promised, "I will firmly nurture agriculture and fisheries, guarantee the basic rights of farmers and fishermen, and make Gyeonggi Province the center of Korean agriculture and fisheries full of opportunities."