Korea Rural Economic Institute and Korea Planners Association jointly hosted this year's first policy seminar of Rural Policy Forum on April 12 at the aT Center. The policy seminar, which was sponsored by the Rural Policy Forum, was held under the theme of 'Integrated Rural Development'. The Rural Policy Forum is a network of rural development experts aiming to bring new ideas and make policy suggestions through discussions of rural policy issues and future directions.
At the opening ceremony, KREI President Oh Se-Ik said that it is necessary to recognize rural development as a national task that requires a comprehensive approach at the government level and seek integrated policies embracing all policy dimensions, including central and local governments, cities and rural villages, and experts and residents.
Following the speech, Kim Kwang-Sun, a research fellow at KREI, delivered a presentation on the theme of "Issues and Tasks of Integrated Rural Development." Kim explained the concept and characteristics of integrated rural development and presented pending policy issues and future tasks in five aspects: plan, project, budget, performance management, and operating system. A heated debate followed on such topics as comprehensive subsidies, rural planning, post-management and continuity of rural projects, and local competence.
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