Applications Accepted Until September 26
KRW 10.1 Billion Invested in 23 Locations
Jeonbuk Province will accept applications for the "2026 Youth Startup Smart Farm Package Support Project," which provides 70% of smart farm establishment costs to young startup farmers, until September 26.
According to the province on the 25th, this project supports young farmers who wish to settle in Jeonbuk by providing all necessary facilities for horticultural smart farms, such as facility greenhouses and ICT equipment, in order to encourage family-based rural settlement and immediate agricultural management.
Next year, the province will invest KRW 10.1 billion in 23 locations, providing KRW 440 million per site. Eligible applicants include graduates (or expected graduates) of the Jeonbuk Youth Startup Incubation Center and outstanding young farmers from cities and counties within the province.
The province plans to encourage a steady inflow and stable settlement of young farmers from other regions who are taking on the challenge of smart farming, through facility support and other measures. In addition, to prevent the outflow of outstanding young farmers from the province, a systematic post-management program will be implemented from the time of selection until agricultural management is stabilized.
In particular, the project will not be limited to simple subsidies; regular gatherings will be organized for young farmers to share experiences and foster mutual growth, especially in the context of rural aging, as part of a collaborative program.
Those wishing to participate must submit an application form and required documents to the relevant city or county office. Final candidates will be selected in November through a document review and in-person evaluation process.
Selected young startup farmers must receive expert consulting prior to establishing their smart farms, in order to gain know-how on facility operation, crop selection, and distribution strategies. They are also required to complete leadership and conflict management training to help adapt to the local community.
Min Sunshik, Director of the Department of Agricultural Life, Livestock, and Food at the province, stated, "The spread of smart agriculture is the most effective policy to overcome the real crisis facing agriculture due to population decline and aging. We will continue to focus investment in youth smart farms through various smart farm expansion policies, so that young people can return to rural areas."
Meanwhile, the "Youth Startup Smart Farm Package Support Project" has been promoted with the Local Extinction Response Fund since 2022, and a total of 67 sites have been supported so far.
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