Gyeongbuk Province Sees 2,710 Farmhouse Relocations Last Year, a 21.3% Increase from Previous Year

18.9% of Nationwide Returning Farming Households

Gyeongbuk Provincial Government Office.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Gwiyeol] According to the results of the '2021 Return-to-Farming and Return-to-Village Statistical Survey' announced by Statistics Korea on the 23rd, Gyeongbuk Province saw 2,710 households (3,654 people) return to farming last year, an increase of 21.3% (476 households) compared to the previous year.

It also recorded the highest number since the return-to-farming and return-to-village statistical survey began, accounting for 18.9% of the national total, ranking first nationwide.

Looking at the return-to-farming statistics by city and province nationwide, Gyeongbuk had the highest number with 2,710 households, followed by Jeonnam with 2,564 households, and Chungnam with 1,800 households.

By city and county within the province, Uiseong had 227 households (ranked 1st nationwide in returnees), Sangju had 211 households (3rd), Yeongcheon 182 households (4th), and Gimcheon 172 households (5th), reaffirming Gyeongbuk as the undisputed number one destination for return-to-farming and return-to-village.

Additionally, the survey confirmed that return-to-farming households increased in all age groups except those in their 70s.

In particular, youth return-to-farming households aged 30 and under increased by 44.1% compared to the previous year, marking the highest level ever recorded since the return-to-farming and return-to-village statistical survey began.

This phenomenon appears to be the result of a complex combination of the prolonged social and economic impacts of COVID-19 and increased interest in rural areas.

The increase in youth farmers aged 30 and under is presumed to reflect changes in young people's perceptions of rural areas as well as the outcomes of Gyeongbuk's youth farmer support policies.

The reason Gyeongbuk has more returnees than other cities and provinces is primarily because high-income crops such as fruit trees, facility vegetables, and livestock farming have developed, resulting in high agricultural income (18.483 million KRW: ranked 1st nationwide).

Also, there are many mentors available for support (cumulative return-to-farming household members: 42,130) and leading farms (number of farms in Gyeongbuk: 166,000 households, ranked 1st nationwide), creating a virtuous cycle that continues to increase returnees.

This is the fruit of efforts cultivated through step-by-step and systematic policy fund support, operation of various educational programs, and promotion to attract urban residents through participation in large-scale fairs, providing customized information centered on demand.

Kim Jongsu, Director of the Agriculture, Livestock and Distribution Bureau of Gyeongbuk Province, said, “We will carefully analyze the results of this return-to-farming and return-to-village statistical survey and supplement necessary policies. We plan to systematically prepare various support policies for return-to-farming and youth start-up farming, as well as demand-centered education, and do our best to attract returnees.”