ISSUES AND

POLICIES IN
SOUT KOREA
AGRICULTURE
Historical Account
● In 1963, the majority of South Koreans were farmers. Sixty-three percent of
the population lived in rural areas.
● In the next 25 years South Korea grew from a predominantly rural, agricultural
nation into an urban, newly industrialized country and the agricultural
workforce shrunk to only 21 percent in 1989.
● Government officials expected that urbanization and industrialization would
further reduce the number of agricultural workers to well under 20 percent by
2000.
Agricultural Problems
● South Korea is a mountainous country with only 22 percent arable land and
less rainfall than most other neighboring rice-growing countries
● Ministry of Trade and Industry analysts stated that poor export performance
resulted from structural problems embedded in the nation's economy

Agricultural Crisis

● Poor prospects on the farm depleted farm villages as the young left and the
old died.
● Parents sent their children to the towns and cities for a better education.
Young farmers who could not find wives also left for the cities.
What did the government do?
● The government initiated various programs to improve rural conditions.
● The most extensive of these was the New Community Movement (Saemaul
undong, known as the Saemaul Movement).
● Its goal was to mobilize villagers in their own service. At first Saemaul
projects were aimed at improving household living conditions.
● The Saemaul Movement initially was quite successful but deteriorated in the
early 1980s. Chon Kyong-hwan, arrested on a variety of corruption charges in
1988, was accused of large-scale extortion and embezzlement while he was
chairman of the movement between 1981 and 1987.
The 2019-2022 Development Plan
Strengthening income safety net
❖ Crop insurance programs will be expanded
❖ Rural diversification(food industry, tourism) will be promoted to
give more access to non-farm income income for farmers.
Innovation for sustainable agriculture
❖ Young start-up farmers will be provided comprehensive support
❖ Digital technology will be integrated into agriculture with regard to
production, distribution and risk management
Enhancing food safety
❖ Bio-security system focusing on animals disease prevention
❖ Environment-friendly livestock industry to reduce pollution
Improving rural welfare
❖ Building infrastructure including housing, traffic and medical condition
❖ Medical outreach service for health check-up

Bottom-up policy participation

❖ Policy design reflecting the opinion of farmers and customers
INDUSTRIAL
Historical Account
REFERENCE
Issues and Policies

Agriculture

http://countrystudies.us/south-korea/52.htm

Industrial

http://countrystudies.us/south-korea/50.htm