Spouses of Agricultural Business Owners Can Retain Farmer Status Even if Employed

Revision of the “Farmer Verification Certificate” Issuance Regulations
Farmer Status Maintained with at Least 90 Days of Farming and Annual Side Income Below 20 Million Won

Starting from March 30, if the spouse of an agricultural business owner becomes employed but meets certain criteria, they will still retain their status as a registered farmer.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs announced on March 29 that the issuance regulations for the farmer verification certificate will be revised to reflect this change.

Jeongeup City is conducting agricultural machinery safety training for female farmers. Jeongeup City

Accordingly, from March 30, even if the spouse of an agricultural business owner is temporarily employed and becomes a subscriber to employment-based health insurance (or the National Pension for workplace subscribers), they will retain farmer status and can register as an agricultural business entity as long as they engage in farming for at least 90 days per year and earn less than 20 million won annually from additional employment.

Up until now, women farmers’ organizations and the National Assembly have continuously called for improvements to the system, pointing out the issue that, despite the prevalence of side jobs in rural areas, a temporarily employed spouse of an agricultural business owner was excluded from being recognized as a farmer.

In response, since the launch of the People’s Sovereignty Government last year, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs has initiated in-depth discussions on system improvements with farmers and experts through the K-Agricultural Policy Council. Reflecting the reality that rural spouses often take short-term or temporary jobs during the off-season to supplement household income, the ministry has prepared measures to allow spouses to maintain their farmer status (if earning less than 20 million won annually) and has revised the relevant notification.

In addition, in line with this revision, the ministry will provide support through the National Agricultural Products Quality Management Service and establish dedicated civil service response teams at regional offices to help spouses of agricultural business owners smoothly verify their farmer status and register as agricultural business entities.

To apply for farmer verification and registration as an agricultural business entity, the spouse must submit, to the relevant support center or office of the National Agricultural Products Quality Management Service, a certificate of national health insurance premium payments for the 12 months including the month prior to the application date, and a certificate confirming farming activities signed by the village head or verified by at least two local farmers. After a review of employment income and an on-site inspection, final verification and registration will be granted.

Song Miryung, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, stated, “This system improvement is a meaningful achievement accomplished together with local farmers through the K-Agricultural Policy Council established to ensure the steady implementation of the People’s Sovereignty Government’s agricultural policy tasks. We will continue to do our best to enhance the rights and interests of farmers.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.