New Knowledge Farmers Gather in Jeonnam-Gwangju for First Time in a Decade, Explore Future Agricultural Development

【Financial News, Jeonnam-Gwangju = Reporter Hwang Tae-jong】 New Knowledge Farmers from across the country gathered in Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City (Gwangju Special City) for the first time in a decade, sharing innovative practices, farming techniques and management know-how from the field as they explored directions for the development of future agriculture.
 New Knowledge Farmers are farmers who create added value in agriculture based on new knowledge and technologies and lead change and innovation in agriculture and rural communities. From 1999 through this year, 503 have been selected nationwide. Of these, 95 are farmers from the Jeonnam-Gwangju region, and 56 are active in the Gwangju-Jeonnam Chapter of the Korea New Knowledge Farmers Association.
 According to Gwangju Special City on the 6th, the “2026 21st Korea New Knowledge Farmers Knowledge-Sharing Conference” was held the previous day in Hwasun, with around 400 New Knowledge Farmers from across the country in attendance.
 Organized by the Gwangju-Jeonnam Chapter of the Korea New Knowledge Farmers Association, the conference was held in the Jeonnam-Gwangju region for the first time in a decade. Participants discussed expanding exchanges and cooperation in agriculture across regional boundaries and exploring new directions for agricultural development.
 In a video message of congratulations, Gwangju Special City Mayor Min Hyeong-bae said, “New Knowledge Farmers develop and put into practice new agricultural technologies and management methods, and lead change in agriculture by sharing their experience and wisdom,” adding, “Gwangju Special City will provide support to ensure that farmers’ sweat and dedication lead to fair income and that innovation spreads widely.”
 The event included the presentation of the 2026 New Knowledge Farmer insignia and an awards ceremony honoring contributions to the advancement of New Knowledge Farmers, including commendations from the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. Five people received the insignia: Lee Jin-young of Gyeonggi Province, Park Jin-hwan and Hwang Yeong-suk of Gyeongsangbuk-do in the processing category; Cho I-hyeok of Gyeongsangbuk-do in the fruit-growing category; and Yoon Ui-sik of Gyeongsangnam-do in the processing category. Fifteen honorees received awards.
 At a symposium titled “Bridging Generations, Opening the Future,” children of New Knowledge Farmers shared the possibilities and future of agriculture, presenting the difficulties they faced while taking over their parents’ family businesses, their families’ experiences and successful startup stories.
 In particular, Kang Seon-a, head of Uriwon Farm in Boseong County, was well received for presenting on the theme “Carrying On a Century of Organic Farming” and introducing the values and experience of farming passed down from her late father, Kang Dae-in, and her mother, Jeon Yang-sun, to the next generation.

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