Return-to-Farm Reality in Korea: 2026 Survey Numbers
By the RuralRoof Editorial Team · Last updated 2026-10-24 · 3 official sources
The reality of return-to-farm life in Korea, searched as 귀농 현실, is easy to argue about and hard to measure. Success stories and "don't do it" warnings both rely on single cases.
This guide uses numbers instead. It reads the government's 2025 귀농·귀촌 survey of 6,000 households and the 2025 official migration statistics. It shows income, costs, farm size, satisfaction and how many people leave.
- Return-to-farm households earned ₩33.0 million in their fifth year, 65.2% of the average farm household's ₩50.6 million [1].
- Their farms are small: 76.1% of surveyed 귀농 households farm under 0.5 ha, and 69.9% also work outside farm production [1].
- About 7 in 10 households say they are satisfied; only 1.4% of 귀농 households say they are not [1].
- Of people who moved in the last 5 years, 3.4% of 귀농인 and 8.3% of 귀촌인 had gone back to a city by 2025 [2].
What do 귀농 and 귀촌 mean in the official data?
귀농 means moving from a city to become a farmer. 귀촌 means moving to a rural area without farming. Both require at least 1 year of non-rural residence before the move [3].
According to the Enforcement Decree, a 귀농어업인 must also register a farm business (농업경영체) or be a fisher (Art. 2) [3]. A 귀촌인 only needs the move and a new resident registration (Art. 3) [3].
Students, people on military service and workers moved temporarily by their employer are not counted as 귀촌인 [3]. This matters when you read the statistics below.
The figures come from two official sources. The first is a survey of 6,000 households that moved in 2020–2024, with 3,000 of each type, interviewed face to face in September–November 2025 [1].
The second is the official annual 귀농어·귀촌인 statistics for 2025, published jointly by MAFRA, the fisheries ministry and the national data office in June 2026 [2].
How many people moved to rural Korea in 2025?
In 2025, 11,617 people in 8,735 households moved to farm, up 8.5% on 2024. Another 413,464 people moved without farming, down 2.2% [2].
| Group | Households | People | Change in people vs 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 귀농 (move to farm) | 8,735 | 11,617 | +8.5% |
| 귀촌 (move without farming) | 316,977 | 413,464 | −2.2% |
The 귀농 rise came from every age group. People aged 70 and over grew 17.3% and women 15.4%. Women made up 37.0% of 귀농인, the highest share recorded [2].
The counties with the most 귀농인 were Goheung (153), Sinan and Uiseong (138 each), Sangju (125) and Naju (121). In total, 40.5% came from Seoul, Incheon or Gyeonggi [2].
For 귀촌, the main stated reasons were jobs (32.1%), housing (26.1%) and family (25.4%). People in their 40s and under mostly cited jobs; people in their 50s and over mostly cited housing [2].
Why do people choose to return to farming?
Nature comes first. In the 2025 survey, 귀농 households cited the natural environment (33.3%), taking over a family farm (21.7%) and farming's prospects (13.5%) [1].
Most are not strangers to the countryside. 73.0% of 귀농 households were born in a rural area and moved back to a place with family or other ties. Only 13.7% were city-born [1].
Younger people answer differently. 귀농 households aged 30s and under put farming's prospects first (27.3%) for the seventh year running, followed by family succession (26.1%) [1].
귀촌 households gave other reasons: a non-farm job (14.3%), nature (13.8%) and a slower, calmer life (13.3%) [1].
How much do return-to-farm households earn?
Less than the average farm household. In their fifth year, surveyed 귀농 households earned ₩33.0 million a year, 65.2% of the 2024 farm average of ₩50.6 million [1].
| Income type | Average farm household | 5th-year 귀농 household | Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 50.60 | 33.00 | 65.2% |
| Farm income | 9.58 | 15.39 | 160.6% |
| Non-farm income | 20.15 | 11.03 | 54.7% |
| Transfer income | 18.24 | 6.25 | 34.3% |
| Irregular income | 2.63 | 0.33 | 12.5% |
Farm income itself is higher than average: ₩15.39 million against ₩9.58 million. The gap comes from much lower non-farm and transfer income [1].
Income grows over time. 귀농 households earned ₩25.34 million in the first year and ₩33.0 million by year 5, a 30.2% rise. 귀촌 households went from ₩38.53 million to ₩42.15 million [1].
MAFRA names two main causes of the low income: small farms and short farming experience [1].
How small are the farms, and is a second job normal?
Very small, and yes. Surveyed 귀농 households farm 0.55 ha on average, and 76.1% farm under 0.5 ha. 69.9% also earn money outside farm production [1].
The 2025 statistics, which count all recent movers, show an even smaller average of 0.34 ha. 83.7% of 귀농 households grow crops on under 0.5 ha [2].
Renting land is rising. 33.9% of 귀농 households farmed only rented land in 2025, up from 26.9% in 2022 [2]. The share of 귀농인 with another job was 32.6% [2].
Crop choice is practical. Rice (33.0%) and vegetables (22.3%) lead, and 52.7% chose a crop because it is easy to grow. Only 16.8% chose it for high income [1].
How much does it cost, and how long does preparation take?
Surveyed 귀농 households invested ₩62.19 million in farmland, livestock and facilities, 89.6% of it at the start. 귀촌 households invested ₩45.63 million [1].
Younger households invest more. Households in their 40s spent ₩95.47 million and those in their 30s and under ₩82.09 million. Households aged 70 and over spent ₩44.13 million [1].
Living costs fall after the move. Monthly spending of 귀농 households dropped from ₩2.39 million to ₩1.73 million, a 27.6% cut. 귀촌 households went from ₩2.31 million to ₩2.04 million [1].
Preparation is a long process. 귀농 households prepared for 27.4 months on average, and 귀촌 households for 15.5 months. Preparation covered finding a region, housing and land, funding and education [1].
Younger people prepared faster but trained more. 68.6% of those aged 30s and under took 귀농 education, against 32.5% of those aged 70 and over [1].
Are people satisfied, and how many go back to the city?
Most stay and most are satisfied. 71.9% of 귀농 and 72.0% of 귀촌 households said they were satisfied; 1.4% and 1.0% said they were not [1].
97.0% of 귀농 households and 86.3% of 귀촌 households said they plan to stay where they live now [1].
The 2025 statistics count actual departures. Of those who moved in the last 5 years, 1,969 귀농인 and about 184,000 귀촌인 had moved back to a city [2].
“Of those who moved to farm or to rural areas within the last 5 years, 1,969 귀농인 (3.4% of 59,000) and 184,000 귀촌인 (8.3% of 2.22 million) were confirmed to have returned to cities.”
However, these are averages from a survey and official statistics. Neither source states why people left. Treat them as a baseline, not a forecast for your own move [1] [2].
What does this mean if you want to buy a rural house?
Budget for low early income, a small farm and a second job. The data shows income rising slowly, with living costs falling after the move [1].
- Plan for about 2 years of preparation; the 2025 survey average for 귀농 was 27.4 months [1].
- Expect farm income alone to fall short. 5th-year 귀농 households earned less than two-thirds of the average farm household [1].
- Start small or rent land first. A third of 귀농 households farm only rented land [2].
- Use official information. 귀농 households named information on land, housing and jobs as the policy they need most (36.9%) [1].
For example, a household that plans to keep a remote job matches the 69.9% of 귀농 households working outside farm production. A household that needs farm income alone faces a harder start [1].
Before you buy, work through the rural house checklist and browse rural listings. For loans and grants, see our guide to return-to-farm support.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 귀농 a good idea in 2026?
The official data is mixed. About 72% of households are satisfied and 97.0% of 귀농 households plan to stay, but 5th-year income is 65.2% of the farm average [1].
How much do 귀농 households earn?
₩25.34 million in the first year and ₩33.0 million in the fifth, according to the 2025 survey. The average farm household earned ₩50.6 million in 2024 [1].
How many people give up and return to the city?
Of people who moved in the last 5 years, 3.4% of 귀농인 (1,969) and 8.3% of 귀촌인 (about 184,000) had returned to cities, per the 2025 statistics [2].
How much money do I need to start farming?
Surveyed 귀농 households invested ₩62.19 million on average in land, livestock and facilities, mostly at the start. Households in their 30s and 40s invested more [1].
Do 귀농 households need a second job?
Most do. 69.9% of surveyed 귀농 households had economic activity outside farm production, and 32.6% of 귀농인 held another job in 2025 [1] [2].
How long should I prepare?
The 2025 survey average was 27.4 months for 귀농 and 15.5 months for 귀촌. Younger people prepared faster and took more training [1].
Where do most 귀농인 move?
In 2025 the top counties were Goheung, Sinan, Uiseong, Sangju and Naju. 40.5% of 귀농인 came from the Seoul capital region [2].
What is the difference between 귀농 and 귀촌?
귀농 is moving from a city to farm, with farm business registration. 귀촌 is moving without farming. Both need 1 year of prior non-rural residence [3].
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Sources
- [1]귀농·귀촌 10가구 중 7가구가 생활에 만족: 2025년 귀농·귀촌 실태조사 결과 (press release and annex, 2026-02-25) · Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (MAFRA) · accessed 2026-10-24
- [2]국내 이동인구 감소에도, 2025년 귀농 증가: 2025년 귀농어·귀촌인 통계 (press release, 2026-06-25) · MAFRA, Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and the national data office (국가데이터처) · accessed 2026-10-24
- [3]귀농어ㆍ귀촌 활성화 및 지원에 관한 법률 시행령 (Enforcement Decree), Arts. 2, 3 (in force 2023-09-29) · Korea Ministry of Government Legislation (law.go.kr) · accessed 2026-10-24