Three high school friends who have maintained their friendship for nearly 50 years are building new lives together in Haenam, South Korea, where they are farming side by side.
After taking different paths in life, the friends reunited in their 60s to live as neighbors, helping each other with farming tasks, which has drawn attention.
According to Haenam County, the trio consists of Lee Mu-sung, who is the representative, and his classmates Cho Han-ho and Jeong Ho-jin, all of whom entered high school together in 1977.
Lee was the first to settle in Haenam, having lived there for 18 years. Following his lead, his two friends decided to move to Haenam, allowing them to reconnect as neighbors.
They built their homes next to each other and assist one another during busy farming seasons by sharing labor.
All three have backgrounds in civil engineering and architecture, which has aided their transition to farming. They have utilized their skills to construct their homes and cultivate their land, gradually establishing a foundation for rural life.
Their journey has not been without challenges.
Initially, they began farming sweet potatoes, a staple crop in Haenam, but later shifted their focus to fruit cultivation to differentiate themselves from other farms.
Interestingly, the friends do not grow the same crops.
Each has chosen a primary crop: Lee and his friends cultivate mini-apples like Ruby and Hongok, flat peaches, and eco-friendly grapes for school meals, respectively.
They sell their produce through school meal programs, Haenam local food initiatives, and Haenam Miso, expanding their market reach.
Although they farm in the same area, they have chosen different crops, fostering collaboration rather than competition by sharing farming experiences and assisting each other as needed.
In the early stages of their farming journey, they also utilized support from local government agencies. This year, one of the friends was selected for Haenam County's '2026 Returnee Farmer Settlement Expansion Support Project,' receiving assistance with agricultural materials.
Lee Mu-sung advises those dreaming of rural life not to be swayed solely by the romantic notion of country living when considering a return to farming.
He stated, "Success in rural life cannot be achieved merely by romanticizing country living; it requires thorough preparation and effort. Utilizing Haenam's support policies and information can also aid in settling down successfully."
He added, "I want to be a mentor for future returnees to Haenam, sharing methods for market development and experiences gained during the farming process."
The story of the three friends has also been featured online. According to Haenam County, their settlement life was showcased on the YouTube channel 'Return to Farming Time' of the Seoul Center for Returnee Farmers and Rural Communities in Gwangju, Jeollanam-do, on September 4, garnering over 26,000 views within a week.
Kim Hee-sun, head of the Returnee Farming and Rural Community Team at the Haenam Agricultural Technology Center, stated, "We will strengthen tailored support and on-site communication to help returnees settle stably in the community."
Meanwhile, Haenam County is implementing various projects to support the stable settlement of returnees in rural areas, including farming settlement assistance. The county aims to ensure that returnees establish a sustainable income through agriculture and integrate with existing residents as community members.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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