Jeonnam Provincial Office of Education Launches Full-Scale Promotion of Jeong Ju-hyeong Long-Term Agricultural and Fishing Village Study Program

Seoul aT Center Return-to-Farming and Fishing Villages Expo Venue, Promotion and Consultation Operations

Jeonnam Provincial Office of Education operates a promotion and consultation booth for rural and fishing village study programs at the Jeonnam Province Return-to-Farming and Fishing Village Hometown Love Expo. Photo by Jeonnam Provincial Office of Education

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Jun-kyung] The Jeonnam Provincial Office of Education will operate a Jeonnam Rural Return and Farming and Fishing Village Hometown Love Expo promotion and consultation booth at the aT Center in Yangjae-dong, Seoul, for three days from the 29th to the 1st of next month.

The Office of Education plans to focus on promoting long-term residential Jeonnam rural return and farming and fishing village study programs through this booth operation.

This expo event was pre-promoted in cooperation with the Jeonnam Provincial Government, the main organizer, and the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, which signed a business agreement on rural return and farming and fishing village study programs. Additionally, parents interested in rural return and farming and fishing village study programs were able to apply for online consultations through the Jeonnam Rural Return and Farming and Fishing Village Expo website.

'Long-term residential study' refers to the entire family moving to the study area and living there for at least 3 to 5 years. This year, it is being piloted at Haenam Bukil Elementary School and Duryun Middle School, with a total of 35 students and 20 families currently residing there.

Based on the pilot operation case in Haenam County, the Office of Education plans to expand the introduction of long-term study programs to more cities and counties and target schools from next year.

Recently, a favorable atmosphere has been created recognizing the effectiveness of saving small schools and population inflow, so Jeonnam Province allocated a total project budget of 28.5 billion KRW to 16 cities and counties to enable the creation of study villages in connection with the Ministry of the Interior and Safety's public contest projects. In addition, local governments in cities and counties are also exploring various support measures such as study expenses linked to population inflow and rural return and relocation projects.

The Office of Education and local governments plan to establish a role system including ▲housing provision ▲expansion of living convenience facilities ▲job linkage ▲student recruitment and assignment ▲nationwide promotion ▲operation of distinctive educational programs.

Superintendent Kim Dae-jung said, “From now on, we will operate the rural return and farming and fishing village study programs so that they attract people by showcasing Jeonnam’s specialized educational excellence,” and added, “We will actively support rural return and farming and fishing village study programs so that they can continuously function as a policy to overcome the risk of regional extinction together with the local community through education.”