[Report] "Earning Five Times More After Leaving Samsung Electronics"... Climate Crisis Warning Leads to Smart Farm Boom [1 Degree Economy] ③

A 1-Degree Temperature Difference Increases Productivity by 10%
Smart Greenhouse Equipped with Precision Control
Automation from Seeding to Harvest, Producing 500 Tons Annually
Smart Farms Emerge as an Alternative to Open-Field Agriculture Amid Climate Crisis

As we followed the road winding through the fields in Gamgok-myeon, Eumseong-gun, Chungbuk, the glass greenhouse of H&A Smart Farm came into view. While the exterior appeared ordinary, the atmosphere changed instantly upon entering. Inside was an "agricultural factory" densely packed with automated systems reminiscent of a semiconductor plant.

To enter the smart farm, visitors had to remove their shoes and undergo disinfection. On the right side of the entrance, there was a "clean room" rarely seen in conventional farms. This structure blocks external contamination and insect intrusion during lettuce shipment. Hansangtae, CEO of H&A (age 42), said, "If you open the shutter and ship products like traditional farms, pesticide-free certification becomes meaningless."

Hansangtae, CEO of H&A, is introducing the interior of the smart farm.

The smart farm occupies a site of approximately 21,054 square meters (about 6,369 pyeong). Of this, the glass greenhouse covers about 16,528 square meters (around 5,000 pyeong), consisting of a 1,322-square-meter (400-pyeong) seedling area and a 15,206-square-meter (4,600-pyeong) cultivation area. The interior of the smart farm was quiet and meticulously maintained. Temperature and humidity were precisely controlled using a fog (mist spray) system. Harvested lettuce was stored in a cold room set to 5 degrees Celsius to maintain freshness.

Here, eight types of European premium lettuce varieties, including Batavia, Mini Romaine, and Crystal, are produced annually, totaling about 500 tons. The harvested lettuce is supplied to Emart and Traders.

Nutrient solution (water containing nutrients) is circulated and supplied at a rate of 265 tons per hour. During the summer, the temperature is maintained at 18 degrees Celsius to prevent heat stress. CEO Han, who studied engineering and worked for 14 years at the Samsung Electronics Manufacturing Technology Research Center, emphasized agricultural solutions, stating, "Plants can also grow normally in hot environments if cold water is supplied to their roots."

Inside the H&A Smart Farm located in Eumseong, Chungbuk.

At this facility, the entire process from seeding to harvest is automated. Seeds are sown in blocks of European black peat moss and managed for 48 hours in a germination chamber with constant temperature and humidity to increase the germination rate. The seedlings are transferred to cultivation channels via an automatic conveyor, and a management system operating like a robotic arm automatically adjusts the spacing according to growth speed. CEO Han explained that spacing must be widened as the lettuce grows to ensure even exposure to light and air.

When harvest time approaches, the channels automatically move to the harvesting line. Workers only handle packaging at their stations, while the channels are automatically washed and reused. The total number of employees is just 14. CEO Han explained, "Labor costs are about half that of conventional farms, but the quality is even higher."

The exterior of the smart farm was also precisely designed. The ceiling uses diffused reinforced glass to disperse direct sunlight, and the sides are made of triple-layer polycarbonate for enhanced insulation. For heating, an electric heating wire system based on PID control is used. PID is a high-precision control technology used in semiconductor and food processing lines that corrects temperature deviations in real time. CEO Han said, "If the temperature increases by just one degree, production rises by 10 percent," adding, "The temperature variation in this greenhouse is kept between 0.5 and 1 degree."

A worker is packaging the lettuce they harvested.

CEO Han entered the agricultural field after leaving Samsung Electronics in 2021. After learning the basics of agriculture on-site at smart farms for two years, he founded H&A with former Samsung colleagues. He said, "I was convinced that automation technology, just like in semiconductors, could be applied to agriculture," and has now established himself as an innovator in agricultural transformation.

Climate change further strengthened his conviction. The Korea Meteorological Administration warned that "by the mid-2030s, half of the year will be summer." CEO Han emphasized, "If heat waves and heavy rainfall continue to repeat, open-field cultivation will inevitably become more uncertain," and stated, "Smart farms are an alternative that can deliver uniform quality year-round regardless of climate." In fact, this farm harvests lettuce every 6 to 7 weeks in summer and every 9 to 10 weeks in winter.

H&A is not simply a farm that grows lettuce. CEO Han stressed, "Agricultural products also need branding," adding, "Smart farms can overcome the limitations of traditional agriculture and grow into premium brands." He stated, "My income has increased more than fivefold compared to when I was at Samsung Electronics," and said, "Smart farms will become a new agricultural model for responding to the era of climate crisis."