FARMERS NETWORK
Unlocked Farms Network
Unloced Farms Network represents a growing network of farmers across the Korean peninsula who are working to protect seed sovereignty and revive native crops. Each point marks a farmer, a seed keeper, or a collective who generously shared their experiences and resources for a future where seeds remain in the hands of the people against corporate seed monopolies.
To make this wisdom more accessible, we’ve also developed an AI-powered Q&A chatbot based on our growing database. Visitors can ask questions about seed types, cultivation techniques, and ecological farming practices. If the chatbot cannot provide a detailed answer, your question will be forwarded to our connected farmers and agricultural experts, who will respond directly through our Q&A section. This is a space built not only to inform, but to connect people—to the land, to each other, and to the future of food.
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In Pyeongchang, a young farmer continues her family’s legacy by growing native Darae and Myeongi-namul. Her mission is to raise awareness so Darae is properly recognized and appreciated by the public.
In Hwacheon, Gangwon-do, young farmer Kim Hwa-mok has focused on cucumbers while also experimenting with native seeds to help preserve them. Though these trials are currently on hold, he dreams of opening a restaurant someday—serving dishes made with crops grown from those very seeds.
In Buyeo, young rice farmer Jung Ju-yong once experimented with native beans but returned to rice due to financial constraints. His passion for farming, sparked during his university volunteer work, remains strong.
In Cheongju, young farmer Choi Do-hyun runs a greenhouse for European salad greens, continuing his father's legacy after pursuing various paths. Proud of his role, he hopes to expand into a wider variety of crops.
In Sunchang, young farmer Kim Hyun-hee preserves native seeds through a local collective. Starting with no inheritance and driven by a love for farming, she now supports herself through agriculture and aspires to grow even further.
INTERVIEWS
Unlocked Voices
This map is a visual journey across the Korean peninsula, marking the farms, villages, and fields where I met with the people behind Korea’s seed heritage. Each button on the map represents an interview I conducted with researchers, local farmers, and scientists who have quietly carried generations of knowledge, even as their seeds were being pushed out or patented away.
Icheon