Yangyang-gun to Operate Autonomous Driving Tractors Starting Tomorrow

Introduction of Autonomous Driving Tractors and Automatic Steering Devices in Agricultural Machinery
Demonstration on the 27th... Rental Available Without Holidays Starting October 1

Yangyang-gun, Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province (Governor Kim Jin-ha) announced on the 30th that, as part of smart agriculture, it will introduce autonomous agricultural machinery (tractors) for the first time in Gangwon Province and operate them alongside agricultural machinery equipped with automatic steering devices.

Yangyang-gun, Gangwon-do, has introduced autonomous tractors and held an explanatory meeting on September 27. Starting from October 1, they will rent them to farmers without holidays.

Yangyang-gun Agricultural Technology Center (Director Hwang Byeong-gil) invested 250 million KRW to purchase two autonomous tractors and install automatic steering systems on five agricultural machines mainly used in farming, including riding rice transplanters, tractors, and riding cultivators, positioning itself as a leader in future agriculture.

To efficiently utilize autonomous agricultural machinery, Yangyang-gun held a demonstration of autonomous agricultural machinery on September 27 at the agricultural machinery rental business office training center for about 20 local farmers.

During the demonstration, tractor operation techniques, driving practice, and safety accident prevention education were conducted to reduce work fatigue and respond to safety accidents.

Starting tomorrow (October 1), Yangyang-gun will accept rental applications for autonomous tractors without holidays and is preparing by securing necessary personnel, equipment, and parts, allowing farmers to perform tillage and stopping work at any time.

Hwang Byeong-gil, Director of the Agricultural Technology Center, said, “Currently facing difficulties such as labor shortages due to the aging rural population, we hope farmers can use tractors more efficiently at the optimal time,” adding, “We ask for much interest and participation in the smartification of agriculture, and we will strive to improve the utilization rate of rental agricultural machinery and ensure farmers’ safety through strengthened agricultural machinery education.”