Forum Held on Possibility of Job Creation in Agriculture and Rural Areas and New Challenges

The Korea Rural Economic Institute (KREI) hosted an issue forum on the “Possibility of Job Creation in Agriculture and Rural Areas and New Challenges” at the Grand Hall of the Korea Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCCI), Jung-gu, Seoul, June 14.

While the continued economic downturn has led to a serious problem of unemployment, the agricultural industry has high employment effects compared to investment, and the young generation’s intent to enter the industry is also high. Accordingly, in the event, it was argued that the public sector’s active intervention is necessary with policies for stabilizing employment and increasing wages.

Through his presentation, “Jobs for the Young and the Agricultural Industry,” KREI senior research fellow Ma Sangjin emphasized the public sector’s active intervention for promoting the agricultural industry’s employment of young people. Particularly, he stressed improving the quality of employment in the industry, strengthening industry-academic cooperation, and establishing a policy implementation system supporting these.

In his presentation, “Job Creation Through Specialized Regional Industries: Performance and Challenges,” KREI research fellow Chung Dochae presented the policy direction for specialized regional industries from the perspective of job creation. He said that these industries utilizing the industrial foundation and unique resources in rural regions are an important means of creating jobs in rural areas with a weak economic base.

In his presentation, “Linking Job Policy and the Improvement of the Quality of Rural Life,” KREI senior research fellow Kim Jeongseop emphasized the active implementation of the policy for improving the quality of rural life. According to him, a large part of the rural services standards introduced in 2011 can be achieved on the premise of the public sector’s financial input. He said that considerable jobs would also be created with the financial input enough to accomplish the goals.

The presentations were followed by a discussion chaired by Song Miryung, KREI’s department director, where various opinions were presented for creating jobs in the agricultural and rural sector. Seoul National University professor Im Jeongbin stressed, “Concrete action plans are necessary, including identifying labor shortages by each sector of the agricultural industry and preparing industry-academic programs according to the situation.” Park Sunyeon, director of Creative Agrifood Policy at the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, said, “We are considering the establishment of a system of statistics on employment in the agricultural industry and job information to formulate efficient government policies.”

KREI will hold the second issue forum on “The New Government’s Policy Tasks for Safe Food” in the KCCI’s Council Chamber on June 28.