Kim Injung, President of the Korea Rural Community Corporation, to Focus on Fostering Young Farmers

First Press Conference Since Taking Office

Kim Injung, President of the Korea Rural Community Corporation, stated on the 30th, "We will systematize the Corporation's projects and on-site support systems related to fostering young farmers to establish a meticulous and organized support structure."

At his first press conference since taking office on this day, President Kim remarked, "Without young farmers, it is difficult for agriculture to remain sustainable," emphasizing the importance of supporting young farmers.

Kim Injung, President of the Korea Rural Community Corporation, is speaking at his first press conference held in Sejong on the 30th. (Photo by Korea Rural Community Corporation)

He explained, "Currently, the government is implementing various projects to support young farmers. In the case of the Corporation, we are running support projects for young farmers through the farmland bank, as well as the Young Farmer Housing Project, which involves building houses and leasing them to young farmers." He added, "I intend to pay special attention to these areas."

President Kim also plans to promote measures to shift the rice-centered production base to other crops. He stressed, "Although we encourage planting other crops in rice paddies to stabilize the supply and demand of rice, there are many farmlands with production conditions unsuitable for growing alternative crops. Therefore, establishing a production base that enables planting crops other than rice in paddies as soon as possible is one of the Corporation's key responsibilities."

President Kim will also continue to pursue international agricultural cooperation projects, with a focus on the 'K-Rice Belt.' The K-Rice Belt is a project aimed at increasing rice productivity and food self-sufficiency in African countries by distributing rice varieties developed in Korea, transferring agricultural technology, and building infrastructure. President Kim stated, "The K-Rice Belt project has the potential to become a representative case of Korea's transition from an aid recipient to an aid donor. Successfully implementing this project is extremely important." He added, "From the Corporation's perspective, I hope that not only seed distribution but also the improvement of production infrastructure will be promoted together, providing an opportunity to showcase the excellence of Korean agriculture."

President Kim was born in Jincheon, Chungbuk. He graduated from Cheongju Shinheung High School and the Department of Public Administration at Yonsei University, and began his public service career in 1994 by passing the 37th Higher Civil Service Examination. He has held key positions such as Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Director of Planning and Finance, Director of Rural Policy, Director General of Development Projects at the Saemangeum Development Agency, Director General of Rural Policy at the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Director General of Food Industry Policy, and Vice Minister. He served as the 58th Vice Minister for one year and three months from May 2022, and is recognized as an expert in agricultural policy, having developed and implemented agricultural and rural policies for nearly 30 years.

At his inauguration ceremony on the 14th of last month, he presented four major management directions: ▲creating sustainable rural and fishing communities bustling with people ▲establishing a resilient domestic agricultural sector and expanding Korea's agriculture globally ▲building a future-oriented agricultural foundation that actively responds to change ▲and advancing the Corporation to become loved by both the public and farmers.

President Kim stated, "The Corporation's core duties are improving the agricultural production base, supplying agricultural water, managing farmland, and developing rural areas." He added, "By faithfully performing these basic tasks and pursuing self-driven change and innovation, we will create an environment where farmers can cultivate their land more efficiently and comfortably."