South Jeolla Province (Jeonnam) is expanding a new program to help returning farmers and fishers settle in the region.
On May 4, provincial officials announced the full launch of the \"Happy Companion Activities Support\" program for returning farmers and fishers, introduced earlier this year. Officials had planned to select five groups, but 17 applied. Faced with higher-than-expected demand, the province secured additional funding and increased support to 13 groups.
The program targets people who moved to the province within the past 10 years to pursue farming or fishing. It supports the formation of interest-based groups and helps participants build ties with local communities through collaborative activities.
Participants will engage in programs such as acquiring farming techniques, taking part in cultural and arts activities, and performing local volunteer work to deepen their understanding of the area. The initiative is designed to help newcomers integrate naturally into community life.
The program also incorporates a mentoring element: some club members must be local residents who serve as mentors. This arrangement aims to reduce the information gaps newcomers often face during the early stages of settlement.
In April, the province conducted interviews to assess the feasibility and sustainability of each group's activity plan and finalized the list of recipients. Each selected group will receive 3 million KRW in activity funding per team (approximately $2,250).
Examples of selected projects include value-added processing of local agricultural products, production of village-story content, and an organic farming research group led by young farmers.
Choi Jong-min, head of the Population Policy Division for South Jeolla Province, said, \"Stable settlement for returning farmers and fishers depends on sustained engagement with local communities.\" He added that the province plans to gradually expand community-based settlement support policies.
