Beyond Agriculture: New Rural Sociology In Korea and East Asia

Rural society is undergoing profound transformations that challenge conventional understandings of agriculture, rurality, and social change. New forms of collective action and experimentation, including food sovereignty, agroecology, producer–consumer solidarity, social farming, community care, social and solidarity economy initiatives, energy transition, and commons-based practices, are reshaping the relationships among agriculture, society, and the state.

These developments suggest that rural questions can no longer be understood solely through the lens of agricultural production or rural development. Instead, they increasingly intersect with broader issues of citizenship, democracy, gender, care, ecological transition, and social justice. In this sense, Korean experiences provide a valuable site for rethinking the frontiers of rural sociology in the twenty-first century.

This session invites papers that examine these emerging transformations in Korea and East Asia, while placing them in dialogue with international debates in critical agrarian studies, rural sociology, political ecology, and alternative agri-food studies. Rather than treating Korea as a unique case, we seek to explore how Korean experiences can contribute to broader theoretical discussions and comparative perspectives on the future of rural societies. We hope this session will foster new conversations and build international research networks connecting Korean, East Asian, and global rural studies.