South Korea's adoption of smart farming technologies remains low, with only 6.8% of farms using such methods as of last year. In contrast, Japan's adoption rate stood at 26.1% in 2023, showing a significant gap despite both countries facing similar demographic challenges, such as aging farming populations.
The Korean government's data highlights that most smart farming initiatives are being taken on by individual farmers, not corporations. Only 0.6% of businesses involved in labor-intensive crops like chili peppers and cabbage were corporate entities using smart farming technology.
Experts point to policy and market barriers as key reasons for the lag. South Korea restricts not only foreign agricultural imports but also the participation of large domestic corporations in farming, limiting investment and innovation in the sector.
Officials warn that without significant changes, South Korea could face a "Farmageddon"—a crisis brought on by declining productivity and competitiveness. Analysts suggest looking to Japan's model of agricultural transformation as a roadmap for Korea's future.
Kim Han‑ho, a professor in the Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development at Seoul National University, said, "Japan resembles South Korea in many ways -- aging population, rice‑centered farming culture -- so we can read Korea's future by examining Japan's successes and failures."
Original source: businesskorea.co.kr
