There’s a saying in Korea: farming is just like raising a child. When we met farmer Lee KyungRae for this interview, he said something similar. But the way he said it didn’t carry the tone of “it’s hard because it’s like raising a child.” Instead, what came through was this: “It’s hard, but it’s deeply rewarding.”
Lee originally came to Gangwon Province for business. But the people he met there left such a strong impression that he decided to stay. Through growing potatoes and radishes, he learned that farming is very different from how it looks on the outside. The weather changes without warning. Market prices constantly fluctuate. Yet when asked why he continues to farm despite the uncertainty, he answered simply: “Seeing my family happy is the reason I keep farming.”
Q. Hello, farmer Lee. Could you briefly introduce yourself?
A. I’ve been farming for about 12 years now. At first I only grew lettuce. Then a young farmer nearby, who was growing perilla seeds, suggested that I try planting potatoes. He was part of a group of young farmers in Gangwon. That’s how I started with the Rose variety. Now I grow three kinds: Tongil, Golden Ball, and Seolbong. And it’s been three years working with Gamzabatt.
Q. What made you switch from lettuce to potatoes?
A. Lettuce actually made decent money. The problem was that lettuce requires daily care, which was physically demanding. It was also difficult to find workers. So I decided to start growing potatoes.
Q. How did you end up becoming a farmer?
A. I originally came to Gangwon for business. But I got to know many farmers here, and I wanted to keep those relationships. Somehow, that naturally led me to farming. Before that, I ran a business installing electric fences in Jeolla Province to keep animals from entering fields.
Gangwon might not seem glamorous… but its agricultural products can be sold at fair value.
The flavor is excellent, too. Farming is hard work, but many people consistently seek out Gangwon-grown produce.
Q. What does a typical day look like for you?
A. I usually leave home around 5:30 in the morning and head to the field. First, I check the crops. Then I install sprinklers and provide nutrients.
This year the potatoes seem to need less water than before, so I’ve also been managing irrigation in the fields. That usually takes up the whole morning.
Q. Does your routine change with the seasons?
A. Yes. In spring we plant potatoes. After harvesting them, we plant radishes in early summer.
After Chuseok (Korean harvest holiday), we harvest the radishes, and then the fields rest during winter. Some farmers grow cabbage or perilla seeds instead. It’s hard to explain exactly why, but potatoes and radishes feel similar in character, so I ended up growing both. I mostly grow Gangjeong radishes, which thrive during summer.
| Q. After 12 years of farming, are there any stories that stand out? A. It’s not so much one particular story… but farming is the kind of work where if things go well, you break even, and if things go even slightly wrong, it becomes very difficult. To be honest, if someone asks me about moving to the countryside to farm, I usually discourage them. It’s physically demanding and the rewards are often small. That’s why many farmers now prefer contract farming, like what I do with Gamzabatt. It helps reduce the risks.
“Farming is very different from the ideal people imagine.”
|
People in Seoul might think agricultural products are expensive, but here prices are set through auctions, so farmers must follow those rates. Sometimes middle distributors stockpile products to raise prices. For example, many people say apples are expensive these days. Often the problem is that intermediaries hold back supply.
Q. Would direct sales between farmers and customers solve the problem?
A. Honestly, direct sales are difficult too. Farmers should focus on farming. If we also have to process products, sell them, and handle marketing, it becomes overwhelming. The government promotes something called the “sixth industry” model, where farmers handle production, processing, and sales. But even if young people come into farming, I think it’s better when people focus on what they do best. Farmers grow the crops well, and professionals handle processing and sales.
Q. What has it been like working with Gamzabatt?
A. That’s why I’m grateful for Gamzabatt. I can focus on growing the best potatoes, while Gamzabatt takes care of processing and distribution. Being able to focus on what each of us does best makes a big difference.
Q. What changed the most after working with Gamzabatt?
A. When I grew lettuce, labor was always my biggest concern. Now I only need extra workers during potato harvest season, which makes things much easier. Before, I had six employees, and managing them while farming required a lot of attention. Now I plant and manage the potatoes myself, so I feel much freer. And because we work through contract farming, there’s a greater sense of stability.
Q. Was there a moment when you started to trust Gamzabatt?
A. When I first started growing potatoes, I planted the Rose Hong variety. But one fall, I got greedy and ruined the crop. Winter comes early in Gangwon, and the potatoes didn’t grow enough. At that time, the team at Gamzabatt suggested trying a different variety. They also helped with the following spring season.
In the first year they even supported us with things like fertilizer and encouragement funds.
In spring they also sent about 10% of the payment in advance, which helped a lot with farming expenses.
Q. You started farming after doing other work and have continued for 12 years. What keeps you going?
A. I used to live in Ansan, but my family moved here to Hwacheon together. And they absolutely love it here. In the city, the people you know and the places you go are limited. But here, wherever you go, people welcome you. You exchange greetings easily. And the kids don’t have to spend all their time studying. Honestly, I think I keep going because I see how happy my family is.
Q. Farming involves many unpredictable variables. How do you keep your mindset steady?
A. I tend to accept things as they come. I think, “Ah, this happened.” Of course I feel stress. But if something is beyond my control and I still keep stressing about it, that only harms me. So I also attend church and try to keep my mind at peace.
Q. If you had to describe farming in one sentence, what would it be?
A. Just like people say, it really is like raising a child. In some ways it can even be harder, because natural disasters can affect everything.
“Still, Farming is about doing
what you can, day by day.”
| | A Message to Customers Who Will Taste His Potatoes “I’ve shared potato bread made from my potatoes with many people, and I’ve never heard anyone say it wasn’t good. I even gave some to my daughter to share with her friends, and they all said it was delicious.
Because the potatoes were grown by my own hands, I farm with real pride.”
|
There’s a saying in Korea: farming is just like raising a child. When we met farmer Lee KyungRae for this interview, he said something similar. But the way he said it didn’t carry the tone of “it’s hard because it’s like raising a child.” Instead, what came through was this: “It’s hard, but it’s deeply rewarding.”
Lee originally came to Gangwon Province for business. But the people he met there left such a strong impression that he decided to stay. Through growing potatoes and radishes, he learned that farming is very different from how it looks on the outside. The weather changes without warning. Market prices constantly fluctuate. Yet when asked why he continues to farm despite the uncertainty, he answered simply: “Seeing my family happy is the reason I keep farming.”
Q. Hello, farmer Lee. Could you briefly introduce yourself?
A. I’ve been farming for about 12 years now. At first I only grew lettuce. Then a young farmer nearby, who was growing perilla seeds, suggested that I try planting potatoes. He was part of a group of young farmers in Gangwon. That’s how I started with the Rose variety. Now I grow three kinds: Tongil, Golden Ball, and Seolbong. And it’s been three years working with Gamzabatt.
Q. What made you switch from lettuce to potatoes?
A. Lettuce actually made decent money. The problem was that lettuce requires daily care, which was physically demanding. It was also difficult to find workers. So I decided to start growing potatoes.
Q. How did you end up becoming a farmer?
A. I originally came to Gangwon for business. But I got to know many farmers here, and I wanted to keep those relationships. Somehow, that naturally led me to farming. Before that, I ran a business installing electric fences in Jeolla Province to keep animals from entering fields.
Gangwon might not seem glamorous… but its agricultural products can be sold at fair value.
The flavor is excellent, too. Farming is hard work, but many people consistently seek out Gangwon-grown produce.
Q. What does a typical day look like for you?
A. I usually leave home around 5:30 in the morning and head to the field. First, I check the crops. Then I install sprinklers and provide nutrients.
This year the potatoes seem to need less water than before, so I’ve also been managing irrigation in the fields. That usually takes up the whole morning.
Q. Does your routine change with the seasons?
A. Yes. In spring we plant potatoes. After harvesting them, we plant radishes in early summer.
After Chuseok (Korean harvest holiday), we harvest the radishes, and then the fields rest during winter. Some farmers grow cabbage or perilla seeds instead. It’s hard to explain exactly why, but potatoes and radishes feel similar in character, so I ended up growing both. I mostly grow Gangjeong radishes, which thrive during summer.
Q. After 12 years of farming, are there any stories that stand out?
A. It’s not so much one particular story… but farming is the kind of work where if things go well, you break even, and if things go even slightly wrong, it becomes very difficult. To be honest, if someone asks me about moving to the countryside to farm, I usually discourage them. It’s physically demanding and the rewards are often small. That’s why many farmers now prefer contract farming, like what I do with Gamzabatt. It helps reduce the risks.
“Farming is very different from the ideal people imagine.”
People in Seoul might think agricultural products are expensive, but here prices are set through auctions, so farmers must follow those rates. Sometimes middle distributors stockpile products to raise prices. For example, many people say apples are expensive these days. Often the problem is that intermediaries hold back supply.
Q. Would direct sales between farmers and customers solve the problem?
A. Honestly, direct sales are difficult too. Farmers should focus on farming. If we also have to process products, sell them, and handle marketing, it becomes overwhelming. The government promotes something called the “sixth industry” model, where farmers handle production, processing, and sales. But even if young people come into farming, I think it’s better when people focus on what they do best. Farmers grow the crops well, and professionals handle processing and sales.
Q. What has it been like working with Gamzabatt?
A. That’s why I’m grateful for Gamzabatt. I can focus on growing the best potatoes, while Gamzabatt takes care of processing and distribution. Being able to focus on what each of us does best makes a big difference.
Q. What changed the most after working with Gamzabatt?
A. When I grew lettuce, labor was always my biggest concern. Now I only need extra workers during potato harvest season, which makes things much easier. Before, I had six employees, and managing them while farming required a lot of attention. Now I plant and manage the potatoes myself, so I feel much freer. And because we work through contract farming, there’s a greater sense of stability.
Q. Was there a moment when you started to trust Gamzabatt?
A. When I first started growing potatoes, I planted the Rose Hong variety. But one fall, I got greedy and ruined the crop. Winter comes early in Gangwon, and the potatoes didn’t grow enough. At that time, the team at Gamzabatt suggested trying a different variety. They also helped with the following spring season.
In the first year they even supported us with things like fertilizer and encouragement funds.
In spring they also sent about 10% of the payment in advance, which helped a lot with farming expenses.
Q. You started farming after doing other work and have continued for 12 years. What keeps you going?
A. I used to live in Ansan, but my family moved here to Hwacheon together. And they absolutely love it here. In the city, the people you know and the places you go are limited. But here, wherever you go, people welcome you. You exchange greetings easily. And the kids don’t have to spend all their time studying. Honestly, I think I keep going because I see how happy my family is.
Q. Farming involves many unpredictable variables. How do you keep your mindset steady?
A. I tend to accept things as they come. I think, “Ah, this happened.” Of course I feel stress. But if something is beyond my control and I still keep stressing about it, that only harms me. So I also attend church and try to keep my mind at peace.
Q. If you had to describe farming in one sentence, what would it be?
A. Just like people say, it really is like raising a child. In some ways it can even be harder, because natural disasters can affect everything.
“Still, Farming is about doing
what you can, day by day.”
| A Message to Customers Who Will Taste His Potatoes
“I’ve shared potato bread made from my potatoes with many people, and I’ve never heard anyone say it wasn’t good. I even gave some to my daughter to share with her friends, and they all said it was delicious.
Because the potatoes were grown by my own hands, I farm with real pride.”