• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.79-94
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• 2023

This study aims at identifying the characteristics of various income earning activities conducted by small family farms, so-called pluriactivity, in Korea, Traditionally small farm households have been regarded in Korea as those who have not only very limited economic capability, but also very low status in rural society. However, in Europe, since the 1990s, there have been some researches found out the role of small farms in socio-economic development of rural regions. These tended to conclude that such various economic activities of small farms' may contribute to the development of rural region. Introducing the concept of pluriactivity from the European studies, this study carried out surveys and interviews with 38 small farm household in Chungnam region in terms of the fundamental reasons for pluriactivity and the impact on rural economies. The analysis revealed the main reason of pluriactivity could be the lack of income for family. Nevertheless, this study also identified another important reason of pluriactivity that small farms' desire to live in rural areas may drive them to do the pluriactivity. It may mean that farming could not be the main option for them to live in rural areas. In addition, it was confirmed that this pluriactivity has a positive impact on rural areas, such as landscape management, job creation, and cultural provision. Along with this, it was confirmed that there is a difference in pluriactivity characteristics according to age. It then necessary concludes that the rural development policy must consider the characteristics of farm households when they provide the support for farming and non-farming activities.