Sharing Rural Life Through Stories... Gangjin County Launches 'Returning Farmers and Rural Settlers Neighborhood Writers' Program

On January 15, Gangjin County in South Jeolla Province announced that it has officially launched the 'Returning Farmers and Rural Settlers Neighborhood Writers' initiative to vividly share the daily life of rural areas with city dwellers considering a move to the countryside.

Gangjin County recently appointed seven new 'Returning Farmers and Rural Settlers Neighborhood Writers' from among local residents who will participate as content creators, kicking off their activities for 2026. These writers are tasked with conveying practical information to urbanites preparing for a rural lifestyle by sharing stories of village residents and real-life tips experienced firsthand in rural settings.

A scene from the launch ceremony of the Returning to Farming and Rural Areas Neighborhood Writers held at the Small Conference Room of the Gangjin County Agricultural Technology Center. Provided by Gangjin County

This project goes beyond simple regional promotion, focusing on transforming the experiences of residents who have successfully settled after returning or relocating to the countryside, as well as various farming practices and everyday rural know-how, into content. By documenting scenes of life unique to rural areas, the initiative aims to help city dwellers make realistic decisions about moving to the countryside.

This year’s appointed writers include a young returnee farmer, a poet who relocated to the countryside, a manager of a rural experience village, and the head of a rural study-abroad center, all with diverse backgrounds. The county expects that the variety of perspectives and experiences will further enrich the breadth and depth of the content produced.

The writers plan to visit a range of local sites-including regional festivals, rural events, traditional markets, and farming facilities-to capture stories of people and landscapes. Accounts from seasonal festivals, rural educational farms, and local food direct markets are expected to provide new information to city dwellers and serve as a window into the spirit of Gangjin.

The writers were selected based on their social media skills, content planning abilities, and future activity plans. Over the next 10 months, they will introduce daily life in Gangjin through online content. Gangjin County will provide an activity fee of 30,000 won per post and will also offer ongoing support to encourage continuous creative work.

The content created by the Neighborhood Writers will be released through 'Greendaero,' the comprehensive information portal for returning farmers and rural settlers. Last year, 180 articles written by the Neighborhood Writers garnered more than 7,000 views, drawing significant attention.

Choi Youngah, Director of the Gangjin County Agricultural Technology Center, said, "The Returning Farmers and Rural Settlers Neighborhood Writers program serves as a living information channel, with local residents directly sharing the rural life of Gangjin. Each writer’s experiences and stories will play an important role in communicating with city dwellers and promoting Gangjin."