'Kim Dong-yeon Pyo' Opportunity Income for Farmers and Fishermen to Be Fully Implemented Starting This Month

Banner for Opportunity Income for Farmers and Fishermen in Gyeonggi-do

The ‘Opportunity Income for Farmers and Fishermen’ support project, targeting farmers and fishermen as part of Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Dong-yeon's key policy on opportunity income, is set to officially begin.

Gyeonggi Province announced the ‘2024 Gyeonggi Province Farmers and Fishermen Opportunity Income Support Project Implementation Plan’ on the 4th, stating that the opportunity income project for farmers and fishermen will be carried out in 11 cities and counties this year, starting with Siheung-si, Paju-si, and Gapyeong-gun.

Opportunity income for farmers and fishermen is a system designed to address the aging population issue in rural areas and recognize the social value created by agriculture and fisheries. It provides an annual opportunity income of 1.8 million KRW (150,000 KRW per month) in local currency to farmers and fishermen in Gyeonggi Province. This year, 450,000 KRW for three months (October to December) will be paid in December.

The support targets are young farmers and fishermen (under 50 years old) registered as agricultural and fishery business entities, returning farmers and fishermen (within 5 years of returning), and environmentally friendly farmers and fishermen (those with eco-friendly certification, animal welfare livestock farms, happy livestock farms, or premium seafood certification). They must have non-agricultural income under 37 million KRW, have resided in the relevant city or county for more than two years, and have met farming conditions for over one year.

This year, 11 cities and counties, including Yongin-si, will participate in the farmers and fishermen opportunity income support project. Applications and registrations will begin first on the 19th in Siheung-si, Paju-si, and Gapyeong-gun, followed by sequential registrations in the remaining cities and counties.

Applications can be submitted by visiting the relevant city or county office or eup/myeon/dong administrative welfare centers, or through the integrated support system (https://farmbincome.gg.go.kr).

Gyeonggi Province expects about 17,700 farmers and fishermen to be eligible for opportunity income support this year and plans to invest 8 billion KRW. Additionally, next year, the support target will be expanded to include general farmers and fishermen.

Gong Jeong-sik, Director of the Gyeonggi Province Agriculture, Fisheries, and Life Sciences Bureau, stated, "The Gyeonggi Province farmers and fishermen opportunity income support project will be an important step in responding to the crisis of rural extinction and improving the quality of life for farmers and fishermen. We will do our best to ensure many farmers and fishermen can benefit."

Meanwhile, Gyeonggi Province established opportunity income programs for people with disabilities and artists last year, providing payments to about 14,000 people, and this year introduced four new opportunity income programs for athletes, farmers and fishermen, climate action, and child care.