SEOUL, Jan. 5 (Korea Bizwire) — The Korea Rural Economic Institute reported Monday that 4 in 10 people living in cities wish to return to the countryside.
The institute conducted a survey of 1,500 city residents, 41.4 percent of whom were willing to return to the countryside when appropriate, or after retirement, up by 6.8 percentage points since last year (34.6 percent).
“It is a result of city residents struggling with unemployment and high cost of living ever since the coronavirus broke out,” the report said.
The intention to return to the countryside was more prevalent among older, less educated respondents who either had lived in the countryside or had a family member who was a farmer, or if they were self-employed.
As for the reason, 43.2 percent said they wanted a healthy life in a natural environment. Another 63.2 percent said that fine dust, coronavirus, and other factors will lead more people to return to the countryside.
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