Do Je-hae edits news stories as part of the AI team.
Moon vows to promote agricultural, fishing sector
President Moon Jae-in at a farm Yonhap
By Do Je-hae
By Do Je-hae
The Moon Jae-in administration will put more emphasis on raising the competitiveness of the agricultural and fisheries sectors as well as raising the quality of life of people in these industries.
Moon held a town hall meeting with policymakers and industry insiders at the Korea National College of Agriculture and Fisheries in Jeonju, North Jeolla Province, a traditional stronghold of rice farming.
During a speech, Moon said that his administration will better address the difficulties faced by those in the agricultural and fishing sectors. “It cannot be denied that the gap between cities and rural areas has been widening,” Moon said. “We need to reassess the value of agriculture and fisheries in society. The remarkable industrial development we've achieved today was possible because of strong backing from the farming and fishing areas.”
Moon proposed several objectives to open a new “era of agriculture” for “inclusive and innovative growth,” which has been one of his core policies. As a way of helping rice farming families, the Moon administration will expand the subsidies available to them. The rice farmers have complained of increased difficulties in making ends meet due to the falling domestic consumption and price of rice. “We believe that the future of the agriculture and fisheries sectors are directly related to the future of our country. With this in mind, we have established a presidential committee for the development of agriculture and fishery industries.”
The President also vowed to turn the farming regions into more attractive places to live by significantly improving residents' living conditions, building on touristic potential and supporting new business models, such as the solar energy development project in Sinan Country, South Jeolla Province. The government has been implementing projects such as “Fisheries innovation 2030” and the “Fishing village new deal 300” to modernize fishing villages and develop marine tourist attractions in these areas. “By 2022, people living in the agricultural and fishing areas will have faster access to childcare and medical services as well as cultural and leisure opportunities.
The government will also increase support for city residents who want to relocate to farming areas. “We will provide a one-stop service for those who want to restart their lives in the agricultural and fishing regions. We will also provide more education opportunities for women and young entrepreneurs and nurture them as a new hope for agriculture.” The government's new focus on such services reflects a growing trend in Korea where more people are moving to the countryside, with about 500,000 people relocating to provincial areas for new opportunities annually. More than half of them are under the age of 40.
The President also stressed the importance of incorporating smart technology in farming to cope with the Fourth Industrial Revolution. “By applying smart technology to small and medium-sized farming and fishing operations, we will enhance their competitiveness and increase the convenience of senior citizens in farming.”