County Launches 7-8 Month Practical Farming Program
For City Residents Under Age 65
Recruiting Participants for the "Non-Stop Return-to-Farming Living Experience"
Inje County, Gangwon Province, is launching a "practical return-to-farming program" in which urban residents hoping to transition to farming can directly experience the entire process-from planting seedlings to harvesting and distribution-helping them settle in rural areas without unnecessary trial and error.
The Inje County Comprehensive Support Center for Return-to-Farming and Rural Settlement announced that it will be accepting applications from urban residents for the "2026 Return-to-Farming Living Experience" program until March 19, 2026.
This program has been designed as a "non-stop, fully immersive education," departing from previous short-term experiences and instead allowing participants to accompany the full lifecycle of crops from start to finish.
The program consists of two main cultivation tracks, reflecting Inje County’s signature crops: ▲ Tomato (a 7-month course) and ▲ Blueberry (an 8-month course).
The core of the program is not merely assisting with farm work, but enabling participants to gain hands-on experience in crop management, developing product marketing strategies, and analyzing sales channels, all aligned with real farm schedules, to fully understand the management aspects they will face after returning to farming.
To help participants integrate naturally into the local community, the county will also provide local orientation sessions, networking opportunities with experienced returnees, and rural life adaptation programs.
In particular, to address the biggest concern of prospective return-to-farming participants-housing-the county will fully cover accommodation and program operation costs during the participation period.
An official from the Inje County Comprehensive Support Center for Return-to-Farming and Rural Settlement stated, "Returning to farming is a major life transition, and it is risky to make such a decision based solely on short-term experiences. This 7-to-8-month course, where participants take full responsibility for a single crop, will serve as the most practical verification process for successful settlement."
The program is open to urban residents under the age of 65 who wish to return to farming.
Interested individuals can find detailed information and apply through the Inje County Comprehensive Support Center for Return-to-Farming and Rural Settlement website.
The county plans to use this program not only to attract new residents, but also to foster "responsible return-to-farming culture" by developing well-prepared new farmers.
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