Goheung County Recruiting Applicants for Return-to-Farming Startup and Housing Purchase Support Program

Support for Settlement of New Return-to-Farming and Return-to-Rural Residents

Goheung County in South Jeolla Province announced that it is recruiting candidates until today, June 27, for the "Second Half of 2025 Return-to-Farming Startup and Housing Purchase Support Project (Loan)" to help returnees settle stably in rural areas.

This project, operated by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, aims to revitalize rural communities by supporting urban residents who wish to become return-to-farming farmers with funds for agricultural startups and housing purchases, thereby helping them settle stably in rural areas.

Goheung County is recruiting candidates until today, June 27, for the "Second Half of 2025 Return-to-Farming Startup and Housing Purchase Support Project (Loan)" to help returnees settle stably in rural areas. Photo by Goheung County

The support includes up to 300 million won for agricultural startup funds and up to 75 million won per household for housing purchase funds. The loan interest rate is 2.0%, with a five-year grace period and equal principal repayment over ten years. The final loan amount will be determined based on the loan review and the applicant's credit status.

Eligible applicants include those who have lived in a city for at least one year immediately prior to moving to a rural area, those who are under 65 years old and have moved to a rural area within the past five years (including one household member such as the head of household), non-farming residents in rural areas with no farming experience in the past five years, and those who plan to move to Goheung County within this year as aspiring return-to-farming individuals. Applicants must also complete at least eight hours of return-to-farming education.

Starting this year, in order to expand support for agricultural startups and growth among returnees, the eligibility and exclusion criteria have been relaxed, so it is necessary to check the detailed guidelines.

The main changes include the relaxation of employment standards in industries other than agriculture, allowing non-agricultural employment without restriction as long as agricultural activities continue. The previous requirement that annual non-agricultural income must be less than 37 million won has been abolished. In addition, the eligibility to apply, previously limited to the head of household, has been expanded to include other household members such as young people.

To apply for the project, applicants must prepare the application form, business plan, and other relevant documents, and visit the town or township office with jurisdiction over their address. Goheung County plans to select recipients through an in-depth interview process based on criteria such as the adequacy and feasibility of the business plan, motivation for agricultural settlement, and appropriateness of the loan repayment plan.