Seoul's Gangseo-gu District Mayor Jin Kyo-hoon visited an urban smart farm near Magoknaeru Station on Thursday to experience next-generation agricultural technology firsthand.
Jin toured the facility alongside 35 participants, including North Korean defectors and members of the Gangseo National Unification Council (chairman Jang Jun-bok).
The on-site program proceeded in three stages: tasting a sprout ginseng drink ("Himnae-sam Latte") grown at the smart farm, watching a promotional video, and touring the facility.
Participants also received cybercrime prevention education covering voice phishing and financial fraud, which drew an enthusiastic response.
The urban smart farm grows eco-friendly, pesticide-free crops regardless of extreme heat, heavy rainfall or other climate-related disruptions. By maintaining precisely controlled temperature, humidity, water supply and nutrients, the facility enables stable year-round crop production.
Happy Farm Cooperative (CEO Choi Jeong-won), a social enterprise, operates the facility and cultivates seven varieties of eco-friendly, pesticide-free crops, including sprout ginseng and butterhead lettuce. It also employs 25 people with developmental disabilities, contributing to job creation for vulnerable groups.
Beyond this urban smart farm, Gangseo-gu has installed smart farms capable of year-round crop cultivation at eight senior welfare facilities — seven senior centers and one senior welfare center.
"It is deeply meaningful as a mutually beneficial model that combines advanced agricultural technology with employment support for people with disabilities," Jin said. "We will continue to do our best to ensure smart farms have a positive impact on the local community."
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