The study shows the socio-economic development in rural regions in South Korea. The agricultural structure and the agricultural constitution are presented and historical peculiarities are shown. The government program Saemaul Undong - the new village movement - is described and its effects critically questioned. The credit unions and other cooperatives are presented and their benefits for the development of the rural population are evaluated.
Table of Contents
1. The role of agriculture in export-oriented industrialization
2. Agricultural Constitution
3. Agricultural Structure
3.1. Labor force in the agricultural sector
3.2. Planting Structure
3.3. Livestock
4. Budgetary balance of agricultural holdings
5. Agricultural prices and agricultural price policy
6. Debt and migration
7. The "New Village Movement"
8. Credit cooperatives
9. Pulmuwon - a country cooperative
10. Kuokmal - a country cooperative
Research Objectives and Themes
This report evaluates the socioeconomic conditions of the agricultural sector in South Korea during the 1980s, specifically investigating the efficacy and impacts of government-led modernization strategies and local cooperative movements on rural livelihoods.
- Analysis of South Korea's agricultural structure and economic policies.
- Critical examination of the "New Village Movement" (Saemaul Undong).
- Evaluation of the role and impact of rural credit cooperatives.
- Assessment of independent ecological farming practices (Pulmuwon).
- Case study of community-based support structures (Kuokmal).
Excerpt from the Book
3. Agricultural Structure
As already mentioned, the South Korean agriculture is characterized by the parceling of the soil. The average land use area in 1983 was 1.08 hectares (for comparison: Japan 1.15 ha and USA 1.60 ha). Over 60% of agricultural holdings farm less than one hectare of land. In total, about 2,180,000 ha of land are used of which 1,300,000 ha as irrigated land and 851,000 hectares unirrigated. Thus in 1983 about 65% were wet fields, whereas in 1965 they were only 51%. However, land use has the land economy since 1965 annual average of 8,000 to 10,000 hectares were taken in favor of the industrial and colonized countries. With the decrease of the cultivated land also the peasant households decreased. In 1970, 14.4 million people still lived in 2.48 million farm households (5.81 persons on average), compared to 2 million in 1983. Households and 9.6 million people (4.8 persons on average). The decrease in land use is therefore lower than the decline in households resp. the persons who live from agriculture.
The examination of farm households according to farm size for 1965 and 1983 reveals two major manifestations of structural change in South Korean agriculture. On the one hand, the percentage of micro-enterprises (under 0.5 ha) has fallen by about eight percentage points between 1965 and 1983, in absolute terms: in 1965 there were still 901,000 households with less than half a hectare of land employed in agriculture, there were just 571,000 farm households in 1983. Although the average households of 0.5 ha to 2 ha have also declined, the reduction of less than 200,000 means that they still account for the largest part of the rural households. In 1965, 57.4% of all farmers had households over 0.5 ha and less than 2 hectares, 1983 were it is 63.6%. By contrast, the farmer households have more than 2 ha decreased by approx. 60,000. In 1965, 169,000 farm households owned more than two hectares of land, in 1983 there were 107,000. The two movements - the decrease of small farms and the decrease of large farms - produced a company structure with high homogeneity. A polarization of farm households with regard to the agricultural land cannot be determined.
Summary of Chapters
1. The role of agriculture in export-oriented industrialization: Examines the shift in South Korea's economy and the resulting income disparities between industrial workers and the agricultural sector.
2. Agricultural Constitution: Provides a historical overview of land ownership, tenancy, and the impacts of land reforms in South Korea.
3. Agricultural Structure: Details the distribution of farm sizes, land use patterns, and structural changes within rural households.
3.1. Labor force in the agricultural sector: Analyzes the employment patterns, labor shortages, and gender distribution in farming.
3.2. Planting Structure: Describes the shift toward vegetable and fruit cultivation and the influence of government high-price policies on crops.
3.3. Livestock: Discusses the rapid development of livestock farming as a vital secondary income source for rural households.
4. Budgetary balance of agricultural holdings: Compares the economic situation of micro-enterprises versus large farms through household income and expenditure analysis.
5. Agricultural prices and agricultural price policy: Analyzes the government's role in fixing prices and the impacts on farmers' profitability.
6. Debt and migration: Explores the reasons for rural indebtedness and the continuous migration of the workforce to urban centers.
7. The "New Village Movement": Critically evaluates the Saemaul Undong campaign, its infrastructure achievements, and its ideological nature.
8. Credit cooperatives: Highlights the history, democratic principles, and social importance of the credit cooperative movement in South Korea.
9. Pulmuwon - a country cooperative: Presents a case study on an ecological, religious-based farming community practicing organic agriculture.
10. Kuokmal - a country cooperative: Focuses on the practical, multifaceted support provided by the Kuokmal Agriculture Workers Council to local farmers.
Keywords
South Korea, Agriculture, Modernization, Cooperative Farming, Saemaul Undong, Rural Development, Credit Cooperatives, Land Reform, Organic Farming, Pulmuwon, Kuokmal, Farm Debt, Rural Exodus, Agricultural Policy, Export-oriented Industrialization
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this evaluation report?
The report examines the socioeconomic transformation of rural South Korea between 1984 and 1985, focusing on how modernization efforts and cooperative farming initiatives impact the lives of smallholder farmers.
Which key agricultural issues are addressed?
Central themes include the impact of industrialization on the agricultural sector, the burden of rural debt, the "New Village Movement," and the critical role of credit cooperatives in providing social and economic stability.
What is the core research objective of this work?
The objective is to critically assess whether government-driven modernization strategies, such as the Saemaul Undong, truly alleviate rural poverty or if they primarily serve ideological purposes while neglecting systemic problems.
What research methodology was employed?
The research is based on field investigations, interviews with local farmers in 1984-1985, and an analysis of secondary statistical data from the Economic Planning Board and other development institutes.
What does the main body of the work cover?
The main body covers land constitution, agricultural structure, household budget balances, price policies, debt, migration trends, and specific case studies of the Pulmuwon and Kuokmal cooperatives.
How can this work be characterized by its keywords?
This work is characterized by terms related to structural economic change, the intersection of traditional agrarian life and rapid modernization, and the importance of self-governing community support systems.
How did the government's "New Village Movement" affect local farmers?
While the movement improved local infrastructure, it was often top-down, forcing many farmers into debt and acting as a tool for ideological control rather than addressing the root causes of agricultural decline.
What makes the Pulmuwon cooperative unique in the context of this study?
Pulmuwon represents a rare example of a successful, ecologically minded farming community that operates independently of chemical-heavy, government-promoted agricultural practices.
Why are credit cooperatives significant for rural communities?
They redirect capital away from illegal money lenders and high-interest private credit, offering a democratic financial alternative that also provides essential social and educational services to members.
What are the primary drivers of the rural exodus observed in the study?
The exodus is primarily driven by the hopeless financial situation of many young people in rural areas, the attraction of better employment prospects in major cities like Seoul, and the lack of future viability for small-scale farming.
- Citar trabajo
- Kurt Lehberger (Autor), 1984, Modernization in Rural Korea. The Case of Cooperative Farming in South Korea 1984, Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/425817
