Becoming a Farmer in Korea: The Background, Values, and Occupational Expectations of Rural Youth

With industrialization and urbanization, increased income, prestige and other positive values in urban life pull rural youths from the rural areas. Left behind in the rural areas are those on relatively small farms and those with lower le­vels of education. Given the relatively small numbers of youth in the country­side, the characteristics of those who expect to enter farming take on great im­portance. This paper focuses on the social characteristics, interests and farm­ing experience, and conceived urban values indicative of anticipatory sociali­zation to farm occupations. Data were obtained through a questionnaire administered to a sample of members of the Saemaul Rural Youth Clubs (previously known as 4-H clubs) in April, 1980. A path model is employed to analyze the relationships between the above factors and occupational expectations, focusing on the process of socialization to farming. Results show that age, educational level, and interest in farming are directly related to occupational expectation. Guidelines are presented for training programs for rural youths which can enhance recruitment to the agricultural sector.