In South Korea, a trend known as “gwinong” signifies a shift from urban to rural living, driven by individuals seeking a departure from fast-paced city life. However, this transition often confronts newcomers with the realities of rural economics and agriculture’s inherent challenges.

Hwang’s case illustrates this trend. After moving to the countryside with his wife to engage in farming, he quickly encountered the direct impact of national policy changes on his agricultural business.

“Each time the central government adjusted its national policies, it directly affected my farming business,” Hwang told Korea Pro. “These changes often led to an increase in livestock feed costs or a decrease in meat prices. I had no choice but to give up farming and return to the city.”

“Many people who move to rural areas end up returning to the city after facing the harsh realities of farming,” he added.

Hwang’s situation exemplifies the broader predicament faced by many urban dwellers who seek rural life only to find themselves at the mercy of volatile agricultural markets.

The appeal of rural living extends beyond farming, as described by Jung Jin-hee, a director of a farming and rural life school in Gapyeong, which is about 30 miles away from Seoul. She observes that individuals are drawn to the countryside, not necessarily for agricultural pursuits but for a change in lifestyle.

“Because Gapyeong is a rural area that is still relatively close to Seoul, people come here to enjoy rural living more than farming,” Jung said. “Some people move here to start small gardens and enjoy a more relaxed lifestyle.”

Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Song Mi-Ryeong (left) visits young farmers in Sangju, North Gyeongsang Province, Jan. 11, 2024 | Image: ROK Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs

DWINDLING RURAL AREAS

Recent data from the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs highlights a fluctuating dynamic in South Korea’s rural demographics. Between 2019 and 2021, the rural population saw an increase, with farming households growing from 357,694 to 377,744.

However, this positive trend reversed dramatically in 2022, as the number of farming households plummeted by 12.3%, marking a significant setback in rural population growth.

The downward population trend extends beyond mere numbers. Reports from the Korea Employment Information Service in Feb. 2023 revealed that of the 228 cities and counties in South Korea, 52% were at risk of disappearing due to declining populations. This figure is an increase from the previous year, where 49% faced the same predicament.

South Korea’s rural regions face multiple challenges. They grapple with a diminishing and aging population, leading to a scarcity of agricultural labor. This demographic shift is exacerbated by infrastructural deficits, rendering living conditions in these areas less than ideal.

The economic disparity is stark: rural workers’ average income is only 60% of that of urban workers, underlining the financial strain faced by those in rural economies. Further, the concentration of job opportunities in cities fuels younger people’s migration to urban centers, exacerbating rural areas’ aging problem and population declines.

President Yoon Suk-yeol attends the 28th Farmers’ Day Commemoration Ceremony, Nov. 10, 2023 | Image: ROK Presidential Office

TROUBLESHOOTING

The COVID-19 pandemic posed new challenges to urban-to-rural migration in South Korea.

“Fewer people moved to rural areas or took up farming last year. The pandemic and a sluggish housing market dissuaded many people,” Park Chung-hee, the director of a rural life and farming school in North Jeolla Province, told Korea Pro.

“The housing market has had a huge impact. When people decide to move from the city to a rural area, they usually need to sell whatever properties they own in the city. That’s how they finance the move or make sure that they have something to fall back on if they can’t initially find work,” Park explained.

“But the housing market has lost a lot of steam over the past year, which has made it difficult for many people to sell their properties.”

Many have also been dissuaded from moving to rural areas because of other perennial challenges that afflict them, such as low birth rates, climate-related disasters and livestock diseases.

In response to these challenges, the South Korean agriculture ministry announced significant initiatives aimed at invigorating the agricultural sector and supporting young entrepreneurs. These initiatives include a substantial increase in land support budgets and financial measures designed to make land more accessible to young farmers.

Additionally, the government’s “Comprehensive Plan for the Local Era (2023-2027)” and the expansion of the “Experience Rural Life” program reflect its approach to encourage resettlement in rural areas and support farming activities.

Farmers working in a field | Image: Canva

RETURN TO REALITY

However, the government’s initiatives have had limited success in encouraging rural migration and boosting the agriculture sector, often highlighting a mismatch between the government’s vision and individual needs.

“I did not move to the countryside to start farming,” Kim Woo-kyung, a 28-year-old man who moved from Seoul to Asan, South Chungcheong Province a year ago, told Korea Pro.

“I moved here because I wanted to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city. But because I moved here and didn’t start a farm, I got less support from the government. Without government support or job opportunities, I eventually ended up having to move back to Seoul,” he said.

In 2022, young households under 30, like Kim’s, represented about 40% of South Korea’s rural population — making them the largest age group. Despite this, Kim experienced firsthand the disparity in government support for people moving to rural areas to pursue farming compared to those moving for lifestyle reasons.

“If I had started farming in Asan, I would have received various government benefits like farming support funds, housing repair costs and agricultural training. Those benefits can go up to $300,000 (400 million won),” Kim remarked. “But because I didn’t start a farm, I only received about $110 (150,000 won) in government benefits.”

This discrepancy poses significant challenges to the government’s aim of incentivizing more people to consider moving away from Seoul and toward provincial areas.

“Most people who choose to resettle in rural areas don’t do it to farm. Only about 4% of them pursue farming,” Park from North Jeolla Province noted.

However, due to a lack of government support for them, data from the agriculture ministry indicates that, while young people constituted the largest demographic group to move to rural areas, they also represented the largest group that later chose to leave.

Edited by John Lee