My Jeju Workshop Journey: Finding the Soul of "Pragmatic" Smart Farming

 Intro: The Learning Never Stops I recently had the chance to attend the "Future Agriculture Response Workshop" in Jeju. As a "Young Start-up Farmer," getting out of the field and into these innovative spaces is always a massive wake-up call. My mission for this trip was clear: look past the flashy, expensive tech and find the true pragmatism that makes smart farming actually work for real people.

1. WangPang Farm: The Masterclass in "Budget-Friendly" Innovation

Walking into WangPang Farm was, quite frankly, a shock to the system. While I couldn't snap detailed photos due to security and on-site conditions, what I saw there was a 100% match for my own vision.

  • The On-Site Insight: Instead of multi-million won proprietary hardware, they built their entire automation system using affordable, off-the-shelf sensors and the open-source platform Home Assistant. It was seamless, powerful, and most importantly, accessible.

  • The Essence of Tech: It proved a simple truth—fancy equipment doesn't grow the crops; a farmer’s ingenuity does, using tech as a tool. This solidified the path for my NFC Beekeeping App. I want to build a "Pragmatic Smart Farm" that doesn't break the bank but maximizes the value of every single data point.

2. Geummulgwa-won: Tracing the Lineage from Citrus to Bees

Visiting Geummulgwa-won (an ancestral citrus orchard) at the Seogwipo Agricultural Technology Center was a visual treat. It’s a living archive of countless citrus varieties, and the diversity captured in my photos is just the tip of the iceberg.

  • Tailored Management for Every Variety: Look at the detailed plaques on each tree. Every variety has its own personality, its own needs, and its own growing data history.

  • A Win for the NFC Project: At first glance, every beehive looks the same. But in reality, every queen’s lineage and laying history is unique. Just as these plaques preserve the history of each tree, my NFC tags will breathe digital life into every hive. Seeing this orchard convinced me that building a hive-specific "family tree" isn't just about keeping records—it’s about building a valuable data asset.


3. NIHHS & Halla Arboretum

At the National Institute of Horticultural and Herbal Science (NIHHS), specifically the Warm-Temperament Agriculture Research Institute, I took a deep dive into climate change data. Beekeeping is at the mercy of temperature and the state of nectar-producing plants. Seeing their weather prediction models gave me plenty of "homework" on how to refine the analytical logic of my app.

Closing: Gearing up for March at Zion Apiary I’m bringing back the "Pragmatic Logic" of WangPang Farm and the "Value of Individual Management" from Geummulgwa-won to bake them right into my project.

While I couldn't show you everything inside the farms this time, that inspiration is now flowing through every line of my code. As the bees wake up this coming March, stay tuned to see how this data blooms into real results in the field.

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Our "Gravity-Fed" Winter Feeding System (And How We'll Make It Better)

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No Radiators, No Vents: Seeing the Secret of 'Ondol' with a Thermal Camera

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 Looking beneath the floor of my apartment and planning for my apiary. In the Korean winter, there is a reason why homes feel uniquely cozy. It’s not because of the warm air—it’s because the floor itself is warm. We take this for granted in Korea, but I know that globally, our heating system, called 'Ondol,' is quite unique. Today, I decided to use a thermal imaging camera to look beneath the surface of my apartment floor. I also want to share how this technology is influencing my plans for a future resting hut at my apiary. 1. The Anatomy of Warmth: How Ondol Works When you step onto a warm Korean floor, you are standing on top of a sophisticated engineering system. This AI-generated image illustrates exactly what is happening beneath our feet. Unlike Western homes that often use radiators to heat the air, our system starts with a boiler. It heats water and pumps it through a complex network of pipes—known as "XL pipes" —embedded in the concrete floor. Think of it...
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