Off-farm income threshold for public-interest direct payments raised from 37 million won to 47 million won — in force 13 November, applied from this year's applicants
Source material is a Korean government announcement (in Korean).
The aggregate non-agricultural income that limits payment of public-interest direct payments rises from 37 million won to 47 million won, taking effect on 13 November, and the raised threshold is applied immediately to farmers who have registered an application for area-based direct payments this year.
Key facts
| What changes | The aggregate non-agricultural income that limits payment of public-interest direct payments rises from 37 million won to 47 million won |
|---|---|
| Date of effect | 13 November 2026 — the raised threshold is applied immediately to farmers who have registered an application for area-based direct payments this year |
| Basis for calculation | Factors including the median income of 1-person households with employed members over the most recent 5 years of the Survey of Household Finances and Living Conditions and its average annual growth rate were considered together |
| Legal basis | The Public-Interest Direct Payment Act as amended on 12 May — 'notified by the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs every 5 years within a range of 43 million won or more, taking account of household income statistics and other data' |
| Expected effect | Calculated on the basis of last year's applicants, about 10,000 farmers are projected to be able to receive about 9.9 billion won in additional area-based direct payments |
| Enquiries | Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Rural Income Policy Division 044-201-2816 |
Last checked:
The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs said it would issue on 26 August an amendment to the notice on the 'threshold for aggregate income other than from agriculture', raising the aggregate non-agricultural income that limits payment of public-interest direct payments (공익직불금) from 37 million won to 47 million won. The current threshold of 37 million won was set when it was newly introduced in 2009, taking account of the average household income of 36.74 million won in 2007, which was the most recent statistic at the time, and has not been adjusted since. On 12 May the government amended the Public-Interest Direct Payment Act so that the off-farm income threshold is 'notified by the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs every 5 years within a range of 43 million won or more, taking account of household income statistics and other data', and as a follow-up measure the ministry set the threshold at 47 million won, taking account of factors including the median income of 1-person households with employed members over the most recent 5 years of the Survey of Household Finances and Living Conditions and its average annual growth rate. The amended notice takes effect on 13 November, and the raised threshold is applied immediately to farmers who have registered an application for area-based direct payments this year. The ministry projected that, calculated on the basis of last year's applicants, the amendment would allow about 10,000 farmers to receive about 9.9 billion won in additional area-based direct payments.
Background — why this change
The current off-farm income threshold of 37 million won was set when it was newly introduced in 2009, taking account of the average household income of 36.74 million won in 2007, which was the most recent statistic at the time. Since its introduction it has never been adjusted, and it has been pointed out that it does not properly reflect changed economic conditions such as price increases. This amendment to the notice was prepared to set the specific threshold of aggregate non-agricultural income at which area-based direct payments are restricted, in accordance with the Public-Interest Direct Payment Act as amended on 12 May, and the amended notice takes effect under the 'Act on Public-Interest Direct Payments for Agriculture and Rural Areas'.
Summaries below are factual notes based on government announcements and primary sources — not evaluations or opinions.
FAQ
What does the off-farm income threshold change to?
The aggregate non-agricultural income that limits payment of public-interest direct payments rises from 37 million won to 47 million won.
From when does it apply?
The amended notice takes effect on 13 November, and the raised threshold is applied immediately to farmers who have registered an application for area-based direct payments this year.
How many farmers does it affect?
The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs projected that, calculated on the basis of last year's applicants, about 10,000 farmers would be able to receive about 9.9 billion won in additional area-based direct payments.