Yeongpa Branch School in Gangjin Reborn as a Smart Farm Hub for Young Farmers

Repurposing a Closed School Site
Jeonnam Smart Farming Complex for Young Farmers

Aerial view of the Youth Farmer Smart Farm Complex established on the former site of Yeongpa Branch School in Gangjin. Provided by Gangjin County

A former school site that had remained unused for over 30 years has begun to be repurposed as a hub for smart agriculture for young farmers.

On January 27, Gangjin County in South Jeolla Province announced that it has established and begun operating a Youth Farmer Smart Farm Rental Complex on the former site of Yeongpa Branch School of Gangjinseo Elementary School, located in Yeongpa-ri, Gangjin-eup. This site has been named the "Jeonnam Smart Farming Complex."

The Yeongpa Branch School site had been left abandoned since its closure in 1991. Gangjin County purchased the school property to transform the region's idle assets into a foundation for future agriculture. After being selected for the 2024 Jeollanam-do Smart Farming Complex Development Project, the county began full-scale development.

The complex was built with a total investment of 3 billion won from 2024 through last year. Covering an area of 9,250 square meters, it is equipped with three smart greenhouses, demonstration spaces, and related facilities. The greenhouses feature ICT-based environmental control systems and automated irrigation and nutrient supply equipment, designed to enable the cultivation of horticultural crops.

The smart greenhouses consist of one for tomato cultivation and two for strawberry cultivation. Young entrepreneurs aged between 18 and 45 can lease these facilities for three years at a monthly rent of 10,000 won, significantly reducing their initial investment burden.

In the initial tenant selection, three young farmers were chosen: one for tomato cultivation and two for strawberry cultivation. They are set to begin full-scale farming operations this year. Currently, facility test runs, crop cultivation preparations, and smart farm operation training are underway.

Gangjin County expects that this smart agriculture complex will help young farmers settle in the region and serve as a catalyst for the widespread adoption of smart agriculture technologies throughout the local farming sector.

Yoon Youngmoon, Director of Agricultural Policy at Gangjin County, stated, "This is an example of revitalizing a long-abandoned school as an asset for young farmers and local agriculture. Moving forward, we will continue to expand the smart agriculture infrastructure and support to ensure that young farmers can settle stably."