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the land is steep, and it can grow lim- “
ited crops. Blueberry is also a popular
fruit in Korea these days. Farming is not as simple as it seems.
“The hardest part about starting
my farm was securing starting fund. You need to have different skills
Being a newcomer in the rural area,
without knowing anyone, was tough to make it happen
too,” he says.
Kim applied for a government sub-
sidy in 2016 under the ‘Youth Farmer ”
Fostering Policy,’ a scheme that aims
to help farmers aged between 20 and different skills to make it happen,” he
40. says.
“The scheme subsidises a farmer Kim reminds future farmers to
for three years. A farmer can get a make as many visits as possible to
monthly support fund of 1,000,000 farming communities beforehand.
won (US $1,000) in the first year, “Learn from experienced farmers and
900,000 won (US $900) in the second make very specific plans,” he says.
year, and 800,000 won (US $800) in While there are young farmers
the third year,” he says. like Kim who want to start their own
“You cannot survive just by grow- farming business, there are also young
ing crops unless you are rich enough farmers who just want to be self-suf-
to hire employees,” he says. Kim starts ficient.
his day at 5:30 a.m. and does every- Baik Ji-hyeon and Kim Chan-mi
thing from grow- ing are young part-time farmers in their
to harvesting by early 20s. Baik is a university student
himself. He is majoring in history. Kim is a stored-
also the mar- food shop owner who sells different
keting officer. kinds of pesto and pickled food. They
“Farming is are members of Pusil, a group of 10 Kim Chan-mi harvests sesame in
not as simple young farmers practising sustainable Pusil farm. In Pusil, farmer prac-
as it seems. You farming.
need to have Kim Young-jin “I started farming in 2020 because tises sustainable farming.
(Photo courtesy of Kim Chan-mi)

I realised that my freedom is actually
a product of exploiting others. I just
want to grow enough food for myself,”
Baik says.
Baik’s farming partner Kim Chan-
mi learned about agriculture when
she was a chef. “I love
nature and cook-
ing with my
own produce.
I wanted to
farm since I
was young,”
Kim Chan-mi
says.
Kim Young-jin feels happy when his customers and friends enjoy his
blueberries. Kim Chan-mi
(Photo courtesy of Kim Young-jin)