This report was produced by the OECD Centre for Entrepreneurship, SMEs, Regions and Cities (CFE), led by Lamia Kamal-Chaoui, Director, as part of the programme of work of the Regional Development Policy Committee (RDPC). The study was conducted with the support and co-operation of the Korean Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT). The OECD Secretariat would like to thank public officials in MOLIT, including Shim Jiyoung (Director), So Eunjung (Deputy Director), Im Yoohyun (Deputy Director), and Park Hyeongbin (Assistant Director) for their continuous and valuable support throughout the project. The global pandemic of COVID-19 arrived shortly after this rural study began, disrupting the original timeline and usual methods of work. The Secretariat is therefore particularly appreciative of the flexibility and adaptability shown by MOLIT officials, who have allowed for a successful outcome of this study, despite the restrictions imposed by the pandemic.
The OECD team elaborating and drafting the report included Gareth Hitchings, Lisanne Raderschall, Mai Sasaki and Laura-Sofia Springare with input from Fernando Riaza Fernandez, under the supervision of Jose Enrique Garcilazo, Head of the Regional and Rural Policy Unit in the Regional Development and Tourism Division, led by Alain Dupeyras. The OECD is also grateful for comments and guidance received from the delegates to the OECD RDPC and the Working Party on Rural Policy. Pilar Philip (OECD) co-ordinated the production process of the report and Francois Iglesias (OECD) contributed the cover art. Eleonore Morena provided editorial assistance and Jeanette Duboys (OECD) prepared the manuscript for publication.