[1-Min Brief] Rethinking the Coordinates of Agriculture… Jeonbuk Builds a ‘Structure for Settlement’

[Cheonji Ilbo Jeonbuk=Reporter Kim Dong-hyun] Jeonbuk Province is transforming smart agriculture into a testbed for structural transition. Centered on the Gimje Smart Farm Innovation Valley and the Jangsu rental-type farm, the province operates the nation’s only step-by-step settlement model connecting youth education, field training, leasing, and start-up support.

So far, 248 individuals have completed the training, and 64 have received start-up assistance. Among them, 26 relocated to Jeonbuk with their families. However, heavy self-financing requirements and limited lease availability remain major barriers to entry.

Jeonbuk has launched the nation’s first public vertical farm demonstration and is expanding smart farming trials to include orchards and open-field crops. Saemangeum is also being developed as a key testbed for smart greenhouses. Developing climate-resilient crop varieties and reducing cooling costs are recognized as key challenges.

Going beyond technology adoption, Jeonbuk’s smart agriculture is drawing attention as a forward-looking model for transforming the agricultural ecosystem and redefining the future of farming.