(Cheongju=Yonhap News) Reporter Cheon Gyeong-hwan = It has been revealed that the agricultural population in North Chungcheong has decreased by more than 20% over the past 10 years (2015–2024). According to the "Changes in North Chungcheong's Agricultural Population Over the Past 10 Years" released by the Chungcheong Regional Statistics Office on the 11th, the agricultural population in North Chungcheong was 140,000 as of last year. This is a 21.5% decrease from 178,000 in 2015, 10 years ago. The agricultural population among young adults and middle-aged adults decreased by 54.1% and 38.9%, respectively, but the elderly population increased by 20%. The number of people returning to farming last year was 837, a 44.7% decrease from 10 years ago. Agricultural income was approximately 460 million won, a 27.2% increase from 2015, and agricultural assets increased by 47.5% to 480 million won.