​1. Study Objectives and Methods

○ Recently, the concept of the ‘relational population’ has been introduced in Korea, which refers to people who maintain a relationship with a particular region in a variety of forms. The relational population is expected to contribute to the development and positive change of the local community in terms of socioeconomic, cultural, and environmental aspects.

○ In Korea, the focus has been on introducing this concept and examining Japanese cases. However, there has been a lack of discussion on policies to attract the population for promoting rural vitality in Korea. 

○ The Jeollabuk-do province has been preparing measures to revitalize rural areas using the relational population since 2021. They are significant in that they expand the existing rural population policy, which was based on residence and stays (such as returning to farming, experiencing rural life, and studying in rural areas).

○ To increase policy efficiency regarding the relational population in Jeonbuk, advancing policy projects as the policy interest in the relational population continues to grow is necessary.

○ This study discusses policy approaches and utilization for the relational population in rural areas through understanding the concept of the relational population and domestic and international examples related to it.

○ This study examines the concept of the relational population, policy trends, and so on by reviewing previous studies and literature, administrative data, and case studies.

2. Conclusion and Policy Suggestion

○ In this study, the rural relational population was conceptualized as urban residents who have sustained interest in specific rural areas and their residents and engage in meaningful relationships, periodic exchanges, or various local activities. 

○ The types of rural relational populations were classified into potential relational, local peripheral relational, and local core relational populations based on the study by Seong et al. (2021).

○ The potential relational population was conceptualized as urban residents who have not visited rural areas but show sustained interest in them or are willing to participate in rural-related activities. Proposed policy projects include ‘Jeollabuk-do ○○ rural bookstore,’ ‘Jeollabuk-do agricultural products online market, Saeng-Saeng Market with a story,’ and ‘Jeollabuk-do rural online tour.’

○ The local peripheral relational population refers to people who engage in activities related to the region for personal reasons, such as visiting the region regularly, purchasing local products, participating in local economic activities, and experiencing living in the region. To increase their interest in the area, policy programs such as ‘Village room networks,’ ‘Shared country house,’ and ‘Urban participation in agriculture (Jeonbuk shared agriculture)’ are suggested.

○ Finally, the local core relational population refers to urban residents who play a role as local resources who can bring about change and revitalization in rural areas. To maintain their strong relationship with the rural area and its residents and to foster their sense of community, policy projects such as ‘Our village ○○,’ ‘Creating rural villages with urban youths,’ ‘Midlife local job tours,’ and ‘Jeonbuk rural likers’ are proposed.

○ o operate and manage relational population-related businesses, cultivating community anchor organizations that consist of residents and establishing a platform that enables urban residents to easily access information and services related to the relational population is vita.