There is now a chance to take a glimpse into the past, present and future of Korea’s agricultural development and related technologies.
The Rural Development Administration opened the History of Agricultural Technology Hall at its National Institute of Crop Science in Suwon, Gyeonggi-do Province, on Jan. 6.
The hall consists of a total of four exhibitions and a viewing gallery. Each section shows the steps that the nation has taken in terms of agricultural development over the past decades with the use of images, life-sized models and video clips, all to help viewers better understand the process visually.
The History of Agricultural Technology Hall at the National Institute of Crop Science in Suwon chronicles the agricultural history of Korea.
Documents recording the deeds of King Jeongjo (1752-1800) and which show the agricultural development that took place during his reign are among the exhibits on display in the History of Agricultural Technology Hall.
The first section, “The First Step of Farming Technology,” chronicles the nation’s agricultural industry and its advancement from prehistoric times through to Joseon times.
The second section, “Suwon, the Root of Agricultural Innovation,” traces the way in which King Jeongjo (1752-1800), the 22nd Joseon monarch, implemented innovative agricultural policies in Suwon itself. In the late 18th century, the king achieved agricultural development across the region by building a large-scale reservoir and by developing the farmland.
This section also focuses on activities that the Rural Development Administration has undertaken since 1962, when it started in Suwon, through to today. Suwon is set in a wide plain with numerous rivers and has geographic conditions suitable for farming, allowing for agriculture to take root here early on in Korean history. In the 20th century, agricultural experimental stations, institutes specialized in seed planting, agricultural schools and other farming facilities, started to spring up across the area, turning it into a hub for the agricultural business.
The exhibits in the History of Agricultural Technology Hall shine a spotlight on improvements in crop species and the development of the livestock industry.
The third section, “Fruits of Agricultural Technology,” revolves around advanced farming techniques and corresponding transformations in food, horticulture and livestock.
Lastly, the “Happiness and the Future that Agriculture will Open” section gives visitors a glimpse into what future agricultural industries look like when they are combined with cutting-edge scientific technologies and take on a much more modern and “smarter” look.
The exhibition is free and it’s open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. It’s closed on weekends.
By Sohn JiAe
Korea.net Staff Writer
Photos: Rural Development Administration
jiae5853@korea.kr
A tape-cutting ceremony marks the opening of the History of Agricultural Technology Hall at the National Institute of Crop Science in Suwon on Jan. 6.
