Even people with mobility impairments can grow crops in greenhouses.
Expectations for job creation for local people with disabilities through herb cultivation and utilization of disability experience facilities

KT and the Community Chest of Korea announced on the 27th that they have established the nation's first customized smart farm for the disabled at the Seoul Municipal Agricultural Vocational Rehabilitation Facility for the Disabled in Namyangju, Gyeonggi Province.

The smart farm tailored for the disabled incorporates temperature and humidity detection via internal and external sensors—which are typically found in existing smart farms—and real-time greenhouse monitoring and control functions, thereby introducing customized greenhouse equipment for individuals with limited mobility.

While conventional farms cultivate crops on land within greenhouses, smart farms tailored for the disabled are designed to allow individuals with developmental and physical disabilities to work easily by installing waist-height 'elevated beds' to accommodate those with limited mobility.

In addition, hard flooring was laid throughout the smart farm to make it easy for people with disabilities using wheelchairs or crutches to access it, and 'hanging beds' were installed on the ceiling that can be adjusted in height using a switch or smartphone, allowing for more efficient movement and work for people with disabilities. .

Previously, only intellectually disabled individuals with a certain level of intellectual ability and the ability to use their limbs could work, but through the 'hanging bed,' even severely disabled people in wheelchairs can participate in agricultural activities.

This smart farm, the first of its kind in Korea tailored for people with disabilities, is set to create jobs for local residents through herb cultivation and serve as an agricultural experience learning center where those who find it difficult to participate in outdoor activities can engage in farm activities. Additionally, the herbs produced at this smart farm will be purchased by culinary expert Edward Kwon in the future.

In particular, it enables the employment of people with disabilities who, even after graduating from school, must rely on their families for not only jobs but also their entire lives, thereby supporting their independence and social activities. In addition, it is expected to have a positive effect on the emotional well-being of people with disabilities through a nature-friendly environment, rather than the existing isolated rehabilitation facilities.

Kim Song-seok, director of '3 Pro Farm,' where a smart farm for the disabled is installed, stated, "People with developmental disabilities experienced positive emotional changes as they touched the soil, sweated, and farmed," adding, "This customized smart farm will enable people with disabilities to engage in activities more efficiently, which I believe will be of great help to their rehabilitation."

Lee Seon-ju, Senior Vice President of KT’s Sustainable Management Center, stated, “We strove to reflect the practical needs of people with disabilities in this customized smart farm, the first of its kind in the nation,” adding, “We hope this facility will contribute to the economic independence and rehabilitation of people with disabilities.”

Meanwhile, KT plans to create a new paradigm for social contribution activities targeting the disabled by securing a new vocational rehabilitation model and a foundation for independence through the nationwide expansion of smart farms tailored for the disabled.