Yongin City to Establish Smart Farm in Abandoned Factory Dormitory in Yangji-myeon

Yongin City to Build Smart Farm and Community Space
in Abandoned Dormitory through Social Innovation Project

Yongin City in Gyeonggi Province will establish a smart farm equipped with a community space by utilizing an abandoned factory dormitory.

A smart farm operating in Yongin. As part of the "Social Innovation Smart Farm Pilot Project," Yongin City plans to establish a smart farm in an abandoned factory dormitory in Yangji-myeon, Cheoin-gu. Provided by Yongin City

On May 4, Yongin City announced that it had been selected for the "Social Innovation Smart Farm Construction" grant project led by Gyeonggi Province. This project aims to create smart farms by utilizing idle urban spaces, thereby generating jobs for vulnerable groups and running social contribution programs.

With a total budget of 1.1 billion won?comprising 495 million won in provincial funds, 495 million won in city funds, and 110 million won from the project operator?Yongin City will establish a smart farm and a community space for local residents in a 1,186-square-meter, two-story abandoned dormitory of a former bag factory located in Yangji-myeon, Cheoin-gu.

This building was previously used as a dormitory for workers at a bag manufacturing factory, but it has been left unused since the factory closed. The city plans to revitalize the area by establishing a new agricultural economic model here, thereby promoting urban regeneration and job creation.

At the smart farm, One Acre Farm, an agricultural corporation, will grow vegetables, herbs, and edible flowers used in salad dishes. In addition to pursuing corporate profits through agriculture, One Acre Farm will provide a cafe, a farm market, and an education center for workers and local residents. The company will also operate smart farm and food startup programs for young people, thereby creating youth employment opportunities. Furthermore, the company plans to carry out social contribution activities in partnership with the local senior welfare center, such as running hands-on garden and smart farm experience programs for seniors.

Lee Sangil, Mayor of Yongin, stated, "We will support the smart farm established in Yongin so that it can collaborate with various social economy organizations, provide opportunities for self-reliance to vulnerable groups, and promote the sustainable development of agriculture and the local economy."