Young people interested in or visiting rural areas prioritize emotional stability and the peace found in nature. However, for those actively engaged in rural activities, income and job opportunities are the key factors for settlement. Experts suggest that support strategies should vary based on the level of engagement.
According to a report by the Korea Rural Economic Institute titled 'Economic Activity Support Measures for Expanding Youth Entry and Settlement in Rural Areas,' there are clear differences in the values pursued by low to medium involvement youth compared to highly involved youth.
The term 'relationship population' refers to individuals who, while not residing in rural areas, have a sustained interest in and visit specific regions. The researchers categorized urban youth interested in rural activities as low to medium involvement, while those who reside or operate businesses in rural areas were classified as highly involved.
In terms of what they value most in rural activities, low to medium involvement youth ranked emotional stability as their top priority at 80.5%. They also reported a sense of peace from being connected to nature and life at 72.4%.
In contrast, highly involved youth placed the highest importance on economic income from their activities at 80.0%. Opportunities for future economic activities, such as entrepreneurship or employment, were also significant at 79.0%. Their priorities for emotional stability and peace from nature were lower, at 49.0% and 59.0%, respectively.
Differences also emerged in their desired lifestyles. Among low to medium involvement youth, 37.6% preferred a lifestyle that allows them to work flexibly as needed. Following this, 31.0% favored a 'half-farming, half-working' approach, where they work part of the day and engage in preferred activities during the rest.
Among youth already active in rural areas, 48.0% expressed a commitment to pursuing economic growth and personal fulfillment through entrepreneurship or employment. This indicates that as they become more involved, the foundation for sustainable economic activity becomes more important than leisure.
Intentions to continue rural activities were high, with 88.5% of highly involved youth indicating they would continue their current activities, while 4.5% expressed interest in engaging in other rural areas. Only 7.0% stated they would return to urban life.
The primary reason for continuing rural activities was 'economic opportunities found in rural areas,' cited by 61.3%. Additionally, 48.9% valued a lifestyle they could not experience in urban settings, while 17.2% appreciated the values of agriculture, community, nature, and ecology.
However, the process of relocating to rural areas presented significant challenges, particularly regarding livelihood and housing. About 63.5% of highly involved youth reported that maintaining their livelihood was a major concern when deciding to move to rural areas. Other challenges included securing housing (58.5%), adapting to unfamiliar rural lifestyles (53.5%), and lacking acquaintances in the area (41.5%).
Despite their interest in rural areas, many faced informational barriers when attempting to engage in activities. Approximately 28.0% of low to medium involvement youth reported having abandoned their exploration of rural activities, with 27.1% citing a lack of information and accessibility as reasons. When asked about the most challenging aspects of their exploration, 53.2% mentioned insufficient information and difficulties in access.
Furthermore, the perceived effectiveness of existing support programs was low. A significant 91.2% of low to medium involvement youth reported that they did not find any specific policies or programs helpful during their exploration of rural activities. Among highly involved youth, only 28.0% indicated that any policies or programs had been beneficial.
The researchers recommend providing housing, job, and local cultural information to low to medium involvement youth, along with support for temporary housing and living/activity expenses. They also suggested programs that connect urban and rural areas, such as academies and youth residencies, as well as multi-regional living programs where individuals work in the city during the week and spend weekends in rural areas.
For highly involved youth, the researchers emphasized the need for not only initial funding for startups but also investment and market support during the business expansion phase. They proposed peer learning opportunities for entrepreneurs to develop business models together, specialized coaching for closely supporting the startup process, and pilot stores to test business viability using vacant spaces.
The researchers stressed the need to shift rural policies focused on attracting permanent residents to those centered on relationship building and economic activities. They argue that while providing information and opportunities for temporary stays is essential for those interested in rural areas, supporting income, housing, and business foundations is crucial for those who have already engaged.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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