An Analysis of Urban-rural Migrants Issues Reported in Korea Media

Rural return migration has significant implications beyond population movement for balanced regional development in South Korea. This importance underpins the government's implementation of various rural migration policies aimed at addressing regional extinction. This study analyzes the discourse surrounding rural return migration in the media over the past 16 years using the Korea Press Foundation database, interpreting the findings in relation to government policies. Results indicate that social interest in rural return migration increased substantially after the mid-2010s, with this trend becoming more pronounced following the COVID-19 pandemic. Through this analysis, we identified how rural return migration has evolved from an individual choice into a socio-structural phenomenon influenced by government policies. Based on these findings, this study proposes strategies for the sustainable development of rural migration policies.