Passing the Baton of Agriculture to the Next Generation in Bonghwa

Settlement-Focused Investment for Family Succession Farms
Comprehensive Support Spanning Facilities, ICT, and Sixth Industrialization

Bonghwa County is launching settlement support for farmers who are succeeding family agricultural businesses, in an effort to accelerate the generational shift in agriculture.

The county announced that it is accepting applications for the "2026 Settlement Support Project for Outstanding Farmers Succeeding Family Businesses," which provides assistance for agricultural facility installation and improvement of management environments to help farmers who have inherited agriculture from their direct ancestors to take root stably in the region.

Support for Outstanding Farmers in Bonghwa County for Family Business Succession and Settlement

This project is not simply about maintaining the agriculture of the parent generation, but is focused on transforming it into a sustainable agricultural structure that combines technology and industry. In the context of accelerating rural aging and population decline, the aim is to elevate family business succession into an "industrial strategy that connects generations."

Eligible applicants are farmers aged 18 or older who have been engaged in farming in Bonghwa County for at least three years, with no upper age limit. Those who have completed or been exempted from military service and have inherited, or are scheduled to inherit, farmland or agricultural facilities from their own or their spouse's direct ancestors are eligible for support. The intention is to selectively foster farmers who possess both farming experience and a strong commitment to family business succession.

The support amount is set at 50 million won per site, with 70% provided as a subsidy and 30% as self-funding. Bonghwa County plans to review the feasibility and growth potential of business plans through a first round of document evaluation, then select the final three sites in February after a second on-site evaluation by North Gyeongsang Province.

The support funds can be widely used for modernizing existing farming infrastructure established by the parent generation, introducing advanced facilities and equipment such as ICT, establishing a foundation for the sixth industrialization that links experience, processing, and marketing, as well as renovating and repairing aging agricultural facilities and improving work environments. This structure aims to inherit the strengths of traditional agriculture while simultaneously enhancing productivity and added value.

Farmers succeeding family businesses who wish to participate in the project must submit an application form, business plan, and related supporting documents to the Agricultural Technology Center by January 30.

Jang Youngsook, Head of Agricultural Technology, said, "Recently, as the income base for horticultural crops such as watermelons and apples has stabilized in the Bonghwa area, the influx of young farmers and those succeeding family businesses has been steadily increasing. We will spare no administrative and financial support to ensure that these farmers can settle in the region and grow as key players in sustainable agriculture."

The crisis in agriculture begins not with production, but with succession. Bonghwa County's support for family business succession is noteworthy as a policy shift that views agriculture not as a discontinued industry, but as a regional asset accumulated across generations.