Jeonnam Reclaims Top Spot in Return-to-Farming After 5 Years... Also Leads Nation in Return-to-Fishing Households

18.7% of All Return-to-Farming Households Nationwide Choose Jeonnam
Jeonnam Attracts 40% of Return-to-Fishing Households

Jeonnam Province has recorded the highest performance in the country in the return-to-farming and fishing village sectors, establishing itself as Korea’s leading region for returnees to rural and fishing communities. Notably, while the number of households moving to the countryside has declined nationwide, Jeonnam has seen an increase in its return-to-countryside population, demonstrating a clear reversal of the national trend.

According to Jeonnam Province’s analysis on June 30 of the "2025 Statistics on Return-to-Farming and Fishing Villages" released by the National Statistics Portal, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, and the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, Jeonnam recorded a total of 31,546 households and 38,564 people returning to farming, fishing, and rural communities last year. The number of households increased by 7.5% from the previous year.

Especially in the return-to-farming sector, Jeonnam recorded 1,633 households (2,068 people), accounting for 18.7% of all return-to-farming households nationwide. This figure marks a 7.7% increase from the previous year, and Jeonnam reclaimed the number one spot for return-to-farming households in the country for the first time in five years since 2020.

The site of the 'Living in the Countryside' event, one of the returning-to-farming and fishing village projects promoted by Jeonnam Province. Provided by Jeonnam Province

The strong performance continued in the return-to-fishing sector as well.

Jeonnam’s return-to-fishing households totaled 232 (303 people), up 19.6% from the previous year. About 40% of all return-to-fishing households nationwide chose Jeonnam, allowing the province to maintain its top position in this category as well.

The most remarkable area is the return-to-countryside sector. While the number of return-to-countryside households nationwide decreased by 0.5% compared to the previous year, Jeonnam saw a 7.4% increase to 29,681 households. The number of individuals returning to rural areas in Jeonnam also increased by about 8% year-on-year, standing in stark contrast to the national downward trend.

This growth in Jeonnam’s return-to-countryside population is analyzed to have been driven by the inflow of younger generations. Of those who moved to rural areas in Jeonnam last year, 21,204 people were under the age of 40, accounting for 59% of the total.

This indicates that, unlike in the past when migration to rural areas was mainly led by retirees, settlement by both young people and the middle-aged in farming and fishing villages is expanding.

Jeonnam Province cited policies aimed at improving housing and settlement conditions—such as the basic income pilot project for farming and fishing villages, the Jeonnam-style "Ten Thousand Won Housing" program, and the Saetteul House support project—as the background for these achievements.

In addition, initiatives such as the "Living in Jeonnam" program, counseling and education for returnees, and support for outstanding startups at various stages are believed to have increased the settlement rate.

Yoon Yeonhwa, director of the Population and Youth Immigration Bureau at Jeonnam Province, stated, "It is a meaningful achievement that Jeonnam’s inflow of return-to-farming, fishing, and countryside residents has increased despite the nationwide decline." She added, "We will strengthen the support system that links housing, jobs, communities, and income so that Jeonnam becomes a region where returnees to farming and fishing villages want to settle and stay."

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