Hamyang County's Return-to-Farming and Rural Settlement Policies Earn Top Honors at K-FARM Agricultural Expo

Only Gyeongnam Local Government to Win Top Award on First Expo Appearance; Highlights Return-to-Farming Policies and Settlement Stories
Promotes Residential Agricultural Startup Support Center, Features Young Farmer’s Story; Seeks to Attract More Urban Residents

Hamyang County in Gyeongsangnam-do announced on October 30 that it had participated in the 2026 K-FARM Agricultural Expo for the first time and was named the top local government among participating municipalities from the Gyeongnam region.

The county took part in the expo, held from October 29 to 31 at Suwon Messe in Gwonseon-gu, Suwon, Gyeonggi Province. It introduced its support policies for people returning to farming and rural areas, the operations of its residential agricultural startup support center, and examples of young farmers settling in the region.

[Photo courtesy of Hamyang County] Hamyang County officials and members of the Association of Returning Farmers and Rural Residents pose for a group photo at the 2026 K-FARM Agriculture Expo in Suwon Messe, Gyeonggi Province, celebrating the county's selection as the only top-performing local government among participating municipalities from South Gyeongsang Province.

The expo, hosted by the Korea Local Newspaper Association, brought together metropolitan and local governments from across the country, as well as agricultural organizations and groups, to share information on agricultural policies, support programs for people returning to farming and rural areas, and other topics in agriculture.

Under the promotional slogan "Hamyang Is Just the Place for a Successful Return to Farming and a Happy Move to the Countryside!" and the theme "Returning to Farming and Rural Areas? Don't Lose Your Way," Hamyang County held consultations and promotional activities for prospective returnees.

The county outlined its step-by-step support system, including education, rural life experiences, and settlement assistance, to help city residents preparing to return to farming and rural areas find the information they need to settle in the region.

It also introduced the curriculum and operations of its residential agricultural startup support center. The center helps prospective returnees experience rural life and agricultural training for a set period while preparing to settle in the area.

Hamyang County used YouTube videos about the center's courses to share information about its operations and presented examples of people who settled in the area after completing the training.

With these promotional efforts, Hamyang County was named the top local government among participating municipalities from the Gyeongnam region, the only one to receive the distinction. The county said the award came at its first appearance at the expo.

On October 31, the final day of the expo, the county was scheduled to give a presentation on its policies for people returning to farming and rural areas and its residential agricultural startup support center on the event's main stage.

The program also included a presentation by a young farmer who had settled in Hamyang and a demonstration of local agricultural product sales using live commerce.

At the event, Hamyang County promoted not only its policies for people returning to farming and rural areas but also "Visit Hamyang Year 2027," sharing information about local tourism resources and visiting the area.

A representative of the Hamyang County Association of People Returning to Farming and Rural Areas, who attended the event, shared their experience of settling in Hamyang and running a workshop after completing the residential agricultural startup support center's training program.

"It's important for city residents preparing to return to farming and rural areas to complete sufficient training and gain hands-on experience before settling down," the representative said. "Our association will also provide new residents with the information they need and help them adapt to the local community."

Following its participation in the expo, Hamyang County plans to expand promotion of its residential agricultural startup support center and support programs for people returning to farming and rural areas, and encourage prospective returnees to visit and settle in the region.

The county also plans to link training for people returning to farming and rural areas, rural life experiences, and post-settlement support programs to help city residents establish stable lives in the countryside.

"We were able to introduce Hamyang County's policies for people returning to farming and rural areas, along with real examples of people settling here," a county official said. "We will continue providing training and administrative support so prospective returnees can prepare thoroughly before settling in the region."

For Hamyang County's award at the expo to lead to tangible results, it will be important to establish a system to continually monitor and support not only promotional outcomes but also whether people who seek advice about returning to farming and rural areas actually visit and settle in the region, as well as whether they achieve stability in farming and daily life after settling.

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