140 sessions held across the country

Key models including MT9, MT7 showcased

Region-specific features demonstrated

Farmers try out autonomous tractors at a test-ride event held in Seogwipo, Jeju, in July. [Provided by LS Mtron]
Farmers try out autonomous tractors at a test-ride event held in Seogwipo, Jeju, in July. [Provided by LS Mtron]

LS Mtron, the industrial machinery arm of LS Group, announced Monday that it has completed 140 autonomous tractor test-ride events across the country this year.

According to LS Mtron, more than 10,000 farmers and local stakeholders took part in the events, which were held at locations including Goseong in Gangwon Province and Jeju. The first-ever event in Jeju, held in July, drew about 70 participants who experienced the autonomous operation features on the island's farmland.

At each event, farmers operated autonomous tractors — including the MT9 and MT7 models — hands-on to explore their practical applications in the field. Key tractor models were also on display at the venues.

Alongside this, LS Mtron provided guidance on autonomous operation functions and implement-pairing methods tailored to the agricultural conditions and crop characteristics of each region. Large-scale farms and agricultural corporations showed particular interest in reducing labor costs and improving work efficiency, while young farmers focused on how to apply smart farming technology.

"We hope more farmers will experience autonomous tractors firsthand and find ways to use them that fit their own farming environments," said Shin Jae-ho, president of LS Mtron. "We will continue advancing autonomous operation technology to ease the workload on farms and boost productivity."

Interest in autonomous farming technology is growing amid an aging population — farmers aged 60 or older now account for nearly 80 percent of farm operators nationwide. In response, LS Mtron, which became the first company in South Korea to commercialize an autonomous tractor in 2021, has since developed new technologies including obstacle detection and autonomous operation on irregularly shaped farmland.


klee@heraldcorp.com