Gijang County in Busan to Provide Public Interest Allowance for Farmers and Fishers for the First Time... 600,000 Won Annually per Person

Targeting 2,000 Farmers and 270 Fishers
Aiming to Stabilize Income and Preserve the Public Value of Agriculture and Fisheries

Gijang County is set to provide public interest allowances for the first time, recognizing the public value of agriculture and fisheries and aiming to stabilize the income of farmers and fishers.

On December 16, Gijang County (Governor Jeong Jongbok) announced that it will introduce the "2025 Public Interest Allowance for Farmers and Fishers" for the first time this year, targeting local farmers and fishers.

This allowance will be provided to approximately 2,000 local farmers and about 270 fishers, with each recipient receiving 600,000 won per year. The public interest allowance for farmers and fishers is a system established to recognize the public functions performed by agriculture and fisheries-such as maintaining food security, preserving the environment, and sustaining rural communities-while supporting farmers and fishers who are subject to relatively low income structures.

To implement this system, the county enacted the "Gijang County Allowance Payment Ordinance for Farmers and Fishers" and prioritized securing the necessary budget despite challenging financial conditions. The application process for local farmers and fishers has now been completed, and the county plans to distribute the allowance in December to those who qualify for the basic public direct payment program.

Gijang County expects that the payment of this allowance will help alleviate the management burden on farmers and fishers and contribute to creating stable conditions for agricultural and fishing activities.

Governor Jeong Jongbok stated, "We have established the public interest allowance to institutionally recognize the public value of agriculture and fisheries and to enable farmers and fishers to devote themselves to their livelihoods in a stable manner," adding, "We will continue our financial and institutional efforts to support farmers and fishers."