Yangju City Recruiting Applicants for First Half Rural Returnees Agricultural Startup and Housing Purchase Support Project

Yangju City Accepting Applications Until January 30
Up to 300 Million Won Support at 2.0% Annual Interest Rate
Eligible for Applicants Aged 18 to 65

Yangju City in Gyeonggi Province is recruiting applicants for the "2026 First Half Rural Returnees Agricultural Startup and Housing Purchase Support Project" until January 30, aiming to foster new agricultural manpower and assist returning farmers in settling stably in rural areas.

Agricultural Technology Center exterior. Provided by Yangju City

This project utilizes NongHyup Bank funds to provide selected applicants with low-interest credit and collateral loans, and the government covers the difference between the market interest rate and the project rate through budgetary support. Selected participants can receive funding at an annual interest rate of 2.0%, with repayment terms of a 5-year grace period followed by 10 years of equal principal installment payments.

Support is available in two categories: agricultural startup funds and housing purchase funds. Agricultural startup funds provide up to 300 million won per household and can be used for purchasing farmland and livestock facility sites, installing greenhouses, hydroponic cultivation facilities, mushroom cultivation facilities, and buying agricultural machinery. Housing purchase funds offer up to 75 million won per household, which can be used for purchasing, building, expanding, or renovating a house, including the land.

Eligible applicants must be between 18 and 65 years old as of the application year. The categories include: "returning farmers," who have lived outside rural areas for more than one year and moved to a rural area in Yangju within the past six years; "non-farming rural residents," who have been registered residents in a rural area for over one year but have no farming experience; and "prospective returning farmers," who have lived outside rural areas for over one year as of the application date and plan to move to Yangju within the year.

Applicants must submit their applications in person to the Agricultural Welfare Team of the Agricultural Policy Division at the Yangju Agricultural Technology Center by January 30. Required documents can be found on the Yangju City website under the public notices section.

Lee Songju, Director of the Agricultural Technology Center, stated, "Agriculture has a high entry barrier due to initial facility investments and securing housing, leading many prospective farmers to face difficulties. We hope this low-interest loan support will substantially ease the financial burden for returning farmers struggling with a lack of initial capital."