KREI Forum for Agricultural, Rural Policy Innovation Launched, Discussed Issues Including Jobs

The Korea Rural Economic Institute (KREI) on Oct. 24 launched the KREI Forum for Agricultural and Rural Policy Innovation and had its first meeting in KREI’s main conference room. The meeting was attended by the co-chairs of the Forum, KREI President Kim Changgil and Seoul National University professor Kim Gwansu, 20 members from academia and farmer groups, and KREI researchers.

The Forum aims to examine various agricultural and rural policy issues and KREI’s research outcomes. Particularly, the Forum will share and present the medium- and long-term direction of agricultural policy for the development of sustainable agriculture by diagnosing agricultural and rural issues and developing and discussing a noteworthy agenda in consideration of social trends. Through this, the Forum also expands the value of agriculture and rural communities which has received attention recently, and awareness of their sustainability and growth potential among the entire people, as well as in the agricultural sector.

At the first meeting, participants shared opinions on jobs and minimum wage increase in agriculture, and presented diverse opinions on job creation that links aging and welfare, companies’ role in job creation, the expansion of the farmland bank system, post management of people returning to farming and rural communities, and so on.