Breaking a Six-Year Freeze, 8.9 Billion Won Added
"A Small but Clear Sign of Support"
Jinho Gun, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea in the Jeonnam Provincial Council (representing Gokseong), announced on December 8 that he successfully secured an increase of 8.9 billion won in the budget for the public benefit allowance for farmers and fishers during the review of the “2026 Jeonnam Agricultural, Livestock, and Food Bureau Budget” held on November 28. This budget proposal was finalized after reviews by the Agriculture and Fisheries Committee and the Special Committee on Budget and Accounts.
With this decision, the annual public benefit allowance paid to farmers and fishers in Jeonnam will increase by 100,000 won, from 600,000 won to 700,000 won starting next year. This marks the first adjustment to the allowance since the system was introduced in 2020, after being frozen for six consecutive years.
The public benefit allowance for farmers and fishers is a system designed to recognize and compensate the public value of agricultural and fisheries activities-such as environmental conservation, maintaining rural communities, and landscape management-shared by society as a whole.
However, as prices for agricultural inputs such as fertilizer, feed, and pesticides, as well as labor and energy costs, have surged recently, there have been ongoing concerns that “there is a significant gap between the nominal allowance and what is actually felt by recipients.”
Assemblyman Gun stated, “In inland and mountainous areas like Gokseong, where the proportion of small-scale and elderly farms is high, rising production costs directly translate into greater pressure on living expenses. This increase is not just about the amount-it is a measure that demonstrates our determination not to neglect farmers and fishers any longer.”
He added, “The public benefit allowance for farmers and fishers is not simply a subsidy; it is an institutional recognition of the public functions of agriculture and fisheries, and a minimum social commitment to sustaining rural communities. In particular, it should serve as a small but clear sign of encouragement for elderly farmers and fishers who have not given up farming despite difficult conditions.”
Assemblyman Gun expressed his gratitude, saying, “I thank Chairman Kim Moonsoo of the Agriculture and Fisheries Committee, fellow committee members, and Jeonnam Governor Kim Youngrok for understanding the need for an increase and accepting the expanded budget despite challenging fiscal circumstances. Taking this decision as a starting point, we will further strengthen measures to stabilize farmers’ and fishers’ incomes and management.”
Meanwhile, with this budget increase, farmers and fishers in Jeonnam will receive an annual public benefit allowance of 700,000 won starting in 2026. Assemblyman Gun plans to continue discussions to improve the payment system and develop step-by-step measures to further align the allowance with real-world needs.
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