“2025 Korea Agriculture Expo: Growth and Happiness Driven by Innovation in Agriculture and Rural Communities”
From September 25 to 28, the 2025 Korea Agriculture Expowas successfully held over four days at the aT Center in Yangjae-dong, Seoul. Held under the theme “Growth and happiness driven by innovation in agriculture and rural communities,”the expo went beyond a conventional exhibition and served as a special venue for visitors to experience and explore both the present and future of agriculture through immersive activities and in-depth discussion.
The expo was organized into four thematic zones—“Agriculture and Life,” “Innovation in Agriculture,” “Colorful Agriculture,”and “Vibrant Rural Areas”—to help visitors better understand the diversity of modern agriculture. Among these, the interactive booths within each section drew significant attention from participants.
In the “Agriculture and Life”zone, the Crop of the Year Pavilionallowed families to plant and harvest potatoes, which had been selected as this year’s featured agricultural product, proving especially popular among family visitors. The “Colorful Agriculture”zone offered experiences such as traditional liquor tasting made from Korean produce, rice cake making, and flower arranging—activities not typically encountered in daily life—which showcased new aspects of agriculture. In addition, the booth run by the Korea Racing Authority featured animal interaction programs, filling the space with children’s laughter.
The “Vibrant Rural Areas”zone highlighted rural communities not just as spaces of production, but as places where young people return to build new lives and revitalize local communities. At the Young Farmers Start-up Pavilion, visitors were able to explore innovative ideas and products developed by young farmers who had successfully settled in rural areas. A consultation booth also provided practical information and expert guidance for those considering leaving urban life to relocate to the countryside, prompting many attendees to seriously contemplate agricultural migration.
Beyond hands-on experiences, the expo presented a vision for the future of agriculture through technological demonstrations and academic discourse. In the “Innovation in Agriculture”section, cutting-edge innovations such as drones and smart farming technologies—expected to lead the future of K-agriculture—received considerable attention from visitors.
A separate conference hall hosted lectures and panel discussions by prominent experts, including faculty members from Seoul National University. In particular, a session on “The Direction of Future Agriculture”addressed topics such as smart agricultural technologies in response to climate change, the potential of plant-based alternative foods, and models for rural regeneration, earning strong engagement from participants. Presentations of success stories by young farmers also served as practical inspiration for prospective returnees to farming.
The expo successfully demonstrated both technological innovation and future potential, while also emphasizing through a wide range of experiences and academic exchange how closely agriculture is connected to our daily lives and what promising prospects it holds for the years ahead.
