Restaurant operations within rural experience and recreation villages located in agricultural promotion zones in Gyeonggi Province have become possible thanks to proactive administrative measures by the provincial government. Previously, it was not possible to register restaurant businesses within agricultural promotion zones, which caused difficulties for local farmers.
On April 30, Gyeonggi Provincial Government announced that it had recently received an official response from the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs stating that, even though the Farmland Act restricts the conversion of farmland for the purpose of establishing rest areas or general restaurants, facilities that provide food as part of rural experience and recreation village projects under the Act on the Promotion of Exchanges between Urban and Rural Areas may be permitted.
Earlier, in February, Gyeonggi Province received a civil complaint from the Hangang Noeulbit Rural Experience and Recreation Village in Gimpo. The village had inquired with Gimpo City about operating a Minari Samgyeopsal (water parsley and pork belly) experience program, including harvesting Minari and making Minari pancakes. However, they were informed that it was not permitted to provide food in a separate dining experience area.
According to the current Food Sanitation Act, food can be provided in rural experience and recreation villages. However, under the Farmland Act, the establishment of general restaurants is restricted within agricultural promotion zones. Due to conflicting laws and a lack of clear legal interpretation, local governments have not been issuing the necessary permits.
In response, Gyeonggi Province visited 31 out of the 120 rural experience and recreation villages in the province to listen to the concerns of the field, and selected 7 villages for on-site investigations regarding the current status of food provision operations.
Because these villages were unable to register as restaurant businesses, they were providing food experiences or meals using educational experience centers. In such cases, group reservations that prioritize hygiene and safety often canceled their bookings upon learning that the villages did not have official restaurant registrations, making it difficult for farmers to attract visitors and increase their income.
Based on these findings, Gyeonggi Province reported the situation to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs last month and requested a solution. The province emphasized that Article 29 of the Enforcement Decree of the Farmland Act clearly states that rural experience and recreation village projects that comply with the business facility standards under the Act on the Promotion of Exchanges between Urban and Rural Areas are permitted to provide food, and requested an official interpretation.
With this proactive response from the Ministry, rural experience and recreation village projects can now establish rest area restaurants and operate businesses targeting visitors participating in agricultural experiences.
Gyeonggi Province has shared this information with local governments, and it is expected that if rural experience and recreation villages officially register as restaurant businesses and provide and sell food, farm income will increase significantly.
Park Jongmin, Director of the Agricultural, Fisheries and Life Sciences Bureau of Gyeonggi Province, stated, "Through proactive legal interpretation, we expect to contribute to income generation in rural areas and the revitalization of agricultural experience programs by utilizing the rural natural environment. We will continue to work hard to increase the income of farmers and fishermen who are facing challenges such as rural population decline, and to make rural communities more vibrant and livable."
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