Encouraging Prospective Return-to-Farm and Fishing Village Residents to Settle through 'Jeonnam Matbogi' Experience Program

Jeollanam-do Offers Meetings with Experienced Returnees in Gokseong and Hwasun
Information Provided for Prospective Migrants at the Jeollanam-do Rural Return Support Center

Jeonnam Provincial Government Office Exterior View

Jeollanam-do conducted a three-day on-site experiential training program called the "2025 1st Jeollanam-do Rural Life Preview" from the 25th to the 27th in Gokseong and Hwasun, targeting prospective urban migrants interested in returning to farming and rural life. The program included conversations with experienced returnees and field visits.

The 30 participants from metropolitan areas such as Seoul and Gyeonggi Province experienced various attractions of Jeollanam-do, including a field visit to a blueberry farm run by a Gokseong returnee, communication time with settled predecessors, hands-on activities making gangjeong and tofu, and a cultural tour of dolmens in Hwasun.

In particular, Lee Sukyung, who returned to Gokseong and now cultivates European lettuce, shared practical advice on rural life based on her experiences, including the process of returning to farming, criteria for selecting crops, cultivation techniques and marketing, and settlement know-how, which was very well received by the participants.

One participant currently residing in Gyeonggi Province said, "It was much easier to understand after seeing the smart farm facilities in person and hearing the experiences of senior returnees, which I had only seen in videos before," adding, "Through this Jeonnam Preview event, I was able to firmly decide to return to farming in the Jeonnam region."

Park Heekyung, Director of Population Policy at Jeollanam-do, said, "I hope the Jeonnam Preview program will provide an opportunity for those considering returning to farming or rural life to experience the field firsthand and get to know Jeonnam better," and added, "We will continue to expand practical educational programs and actively promote and support Jeonnam as the optimal destination for returning to rural life."

The Jeonnam Preview project, which was piloted twice in the second half of last year and received great response from urban residents, will be expanded this year. It is scheduled to run from March to November.