Return-to-farm (귀농) agricultural start-up and housing purchase support
Cheap long-term loans to set up a farm and a home in rural Korea after leaving the city.
Record checked Oct 27, 2026 · official source confirmed 14 Nov, 06:01 UTC
Summary
National Ministry of Agriculture (MAFRA) scheme run through city/county offices and NongHyup Bank: subsidised loans of up to ₩300 million per household to start farming and up to ₩75 million to buy, build or extend a rural home, at a fixed 2.0% or variable rate, repaid over 5 years' grace plus 10 years.
Dream spread
Cheap long-term loans to set up a farm and a home in rural Korea after leaving the city.
Relocation reality check
Loans, not grants — repayable over 15 years and secured on your credit/collateral. You must live at the site and farm for the whole 15-year loan period; selling the farm or house or quitting farming without approval triggers early repayment. Only people who moved to a rural area within the last 6 years after 1+ year living in a city (or who are moving this year) qualify; 8+ hours of farming education required. Selection rounds run twice a year with short windows and county-level scoring.
Your fit signals
The real program is below — the 0–100 scoring is a paid feature.
Full match score — Solo / Household
The 0–100 move-match score, quality score, and would-stay breakdown — with confidence and full reasoning — unlock on Solo and Household.
See Solo & Household plansCheck: Residence in South Korea required
The program expects you to live in, or hold residence in, South Korea — check on the official source whether that must…
Reality engine
Four lenses on whether this move fits you — tap a panel to see the logic behind each signal.
Eligibility
Age 18–65 in the application year (no age cap for housing funds); one applicant per household. Return-to-farm migrants within 6 years of moving to a rural area after 1+ year of continuous non-rural residence, non-farming rural residents of 1+ year, or people moving to a rural area this year; 8+ hours of recognised farm/return-to-farm training within the last 5 years. Overseas Koreans (재외동포) holding foreign nationality may apply if they meet these definitions.
Conditions
The program's rules on record, blockers first. Confirm each on the official source.
Residence in South Korea required
CautionThe program expects you to live in, or hold residence in, South Korea — check on the official source whether that must be in place before you apply.
The long game
If South Korea becomes home, here is the road from first visa to a second passport.
South Korea · residency → PR → citizenship
Curated- Y0Arrive
Costs & money
The amounts & terms on record from the official source. USD figures are estimates.
- Incentive
- 375,000,000 KRWConditions apply — read the catch before counting on it.
- Property purchase
- Not required
True cost to move
Upfront cash, reimbursements, and net position after approval — not headline incentive amounts.
- Flights & logistics$1,200
- Temporary housing (90 days)$2,400
- Deposit / first month rent$2,000
- Visa & consular fees$500
- Health insurance$600
Application roadmap
A practical sequence — adjust for your consulate and timeline.
1. Confirm official eligibility
Read the primary government source.
2. Gather income & employment proof
Bank statements, contracts, or tax records.
3. Book consulate / immigration appointment
Slots vary by country and season.
4. Prepare health coverage
Meet minimum coverage rules before arrival.
Meet people before you go
Existing communities already talking about life in 🇰🇷 South Korea. Lurk, ask, make a friend — before the flight.
Source trail
Official links, the line we checked, and when we last checked it.
“농업 창업자금 : 세대당 3억원 한도 이내 … 주택 구입·신축 및 증·개축 자금 : 세대당 7,500만원 한도 이내 … 대출금리 : 고정금리(연 2.0%) 또는 변동금리 중 선택 … * 재외동포(외국인)는 귀농인, 재촌비농업인, 귀농희망자에 해당될 경우 사업 신청 가능 [Farm start-up funds up to ₩300M per household; housing up to ₩75M; fixed 2.0% or variable rate; overseas Koreans (foreign nationals) may apply if they fit the return-to-farm categories]”
Primary official sourceLast checked Oct 27, 2026- Secondary referenceLast checked Oct 27, 2026
Rule changes
CasaSedora last checked the official source on 14 Nov 2026. Changes appear here once two independent automated checks agree on them, or a person confirms them.
No rule changes recorded since monitoring began.
Our summaries point you to what moved — always confirm details on the official source.