Chungnam Agricultural Research and Extension Services held the "Rural Experience Business Sharing Meeting for Prospective Farmers and Returnees" on the 29th, with 33 participants including city and county officials and village operators in attendance.

The rural experience program for prospective farmers and returnees is a Chungnam-style "Living in the Rural Area" initiative that supports urban residents wishing to farm or return to rural areas by allowing them to stay in rural villages for one to six months to experience farming and local life in advance. Participants can experience rural life and prepare for settlement through farming experiences, resident exchanges, and local tours.

Including independent city and county projects, 17 villages across 10 cities and counties in the province are currently operating programs, with 123 participants joining as of this year.

This sharing meeting was organized to share village-specific operating performance and difficulties in the field, and to enhance business operation capabilities through best practices.

Attendees shared village-specific implementation statuses, program operation experiences, and business plans for next year, while also examining the case of Namdo Traditional Hanok Village in Jindo-gun, Jeollanam-do, which was selected as an outstanding local government at the "Living in the Rural Area Best Practice Contest" hosted by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs last year.

Additionally, the event provided time to guide village operators on information necessary for rural settlement and practical knowledge such as the Farmland Act, thereby enhancing their counseling capabilities.

An official from the Provincial Agricultural Research and Extension Services stated, "We hope this sharing meeting served as an opportunity for village operators to share field experience, operational skills, and expertise while improving their counseling capabilities," adding, "Moving forward, we will continue to strengthen field-centered operational capabilities and discover best practices utilizing Chungnam's unique characteristics to provide substantial support so that prospective farmers and returnees can experience rural life and settle down stably."

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