Hwaseong City Recruits Residents for Stay-Type Weekend Farms

Hwaseong City is developing stay-type weekend farms that allow urban residents to enjoy rural living and personally cultivate vegetables, and is now recruiting residents.

The city has invested a total of 233 million won, including 40 million won in provincial funds and 100 million won in city budget, from November last year through the end of March this year to construct five residential facilities with accommodation capabilities and vegetable gardens in Sangdu-ri, Hyangnam-eup, Hwaseong City. All facilities will be completed by the end of March.

Each weekend farm unit consists of a 39㎡ accommodation facility and a 330㎡ vegetable garden per household. The city is accepting applications through the end of March 20 via the internet (http://kgtour.kr) to enable participation by a large number of urban residents.

Applicants must be at least 30 years old and belong to urban households with two or more family members (excluding residents of eup and myeon areas). Rental fees start at a minimum of 3.5 million won and are determined through highest-bid bidding among applicants.

However, residents cannot transfer their residence or live there on a full-time basis, and the rental period is one year.

A city official stated, "The stay-type weekend farm is a Korean-style rural income model that guarantees income to local residents while providing urban residents with a pleasant rural environment," and added, "We plan to expand this further in the future."

Meanwhile, Hwaseong City is currently operating stay-type weekend farms in two villages: Gungpyeong Port and Baengmi-ri.