[Editor's note] The population crisis is becoming reality first in rural areas. According to the "2025 Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Census" by the Ministry of Data and Statistics (MODS), more than half of farm households' population is 65 or older, and the working-age population is only 45.8%. With fewer hands available, it has become difficult to sustain farming the old way. We look at sites where smart farming and artificial intelligence (AI) and digital technologies spreading in rural areas are moving beyond the risk of extinction and injecting new vitality.
At 9:30 a.m. on the 21st, Ibak-myeon, Namwon, North Jeolla Province. Seven large drones lifted over the rice paddies with a "wing" sound, kicking up dust. It was the start of Namwon's first drone pest control of the year.
The drones traced the shape of "ㄹ" as they moved over the paddies. Like a robot vacuum scanning the floor, they kept even spacing and sprayed the chemicals evenly. One drone sprayed 40 liters of chemicals over 1 ha (10,000㎡, about 3,000 pyeong) of paddies in about 10 minutes.
The seven drones deployed that day finished pest control over 7 ha (about 21,000 pyeong) in 10 minutes. If people do the work directly, it can take up to two hours per hectare. For 7 ha, that is 14 hours. Even with just one drone, the same area can be finished in about 70 minutes.
◇ Drones become new hands in super-aged rural areas
In Namwon, where aging has reduced available labor, drones have become essential farm equipment. In the past, to block summer blight and pests, farmers strapped on chemical tanks and entered the paddies themselves or sprayed chemicals using water. It required much labor and time, and because the work had to be done in sweltering heat, the burden on farmers was heavy.
Rural communities chose drones as a solution to replace scarce hands. Deputy Minister Lee Jeong-suk of Namwon NongHyup's Farm Household Income Support Headquarters said, "Using drones, farmers can conduct pest control without entering the paddies themselves," and noted, "It reduces labor intensity and also lowers the risks of heat-related illness and safety accidents during hot periods."
Drone pest control has limits, too. It is difficult to operate on rainy or windy days. Namwon planned to fly a total of 26 drones that day—seven in Ibak-myeon, seven in Jucheon-myeon and 12 in Samae-myeon—but work in Jucheon-myeon and Samae-myeon was canceled due to strong winds.
The Deputy Minister said, "Weather conditions must support flying drones," and said, "If it rains or the wind speed exceeds 3 meters per second, it is difficult to conduct pest control."
Although drone adoption is increasing, some say support systems are not keeping pace with technological change. Farm households are asking that the fuel used in portable generators to charge drone batteries be included among tax-exempt agricultural fuels.
Under the current system, agricultural business entities can purchase fuel tax-free when it is used to operate farm machinery or heat facilities. However, fuel used for generators that charge batteries for electric pest-control drones is not included in the tax-exempt category.
Agricultural drones alternate multiple batteries for continuous work over large farmland and charge them with portable generators set up on-site. It is said that about 40 liters of gasoline are typically needed for generator fuel to work 10 ha.
An on-site pest control official said, "Fuel used to charge drone batteries is clearly for agricultural use, but it is excluded from tax exemptions," and said, "We need to readjust tax-exempt fuel standards to fit the smart farming era."
◇ "I bought it to make my own farming easier, and it brought extra income"
Drone pest control both eases rural labor shortages and provides new income sources for participating farmers. The seven pilots and seven co-pilots who joined the control team that day are all farmers cultivating land in Namwon.
The control team receives 105,000 won for every 1 ha of paddies worked. The local government covers 50% of the expense, NongHyup covers 10%, and the remaining 40% is borne by the farm household.
If one drone controls 10 ha in a day, the amount paid to the control team is 1.05 million won. From that, the pilot and co-pilot split the remainder at a set ratio after deducting essential expenses such as generator fuel.
Kim Bong-hwan, 41, who joined the control team, said, "I bought a drone four years ago to use on my own farm," and said, "By taking part in local control activities, I am also earning additional income."
Namwon City provides 50% of the purchase cost, up to 15 million won, to farmers who buy agricultural drones. Kim also received 15 million won from Namwon City when purchasing a 40 million won large DJI pest-control drone.
To operate a drone, a Class 1 ultralight aircraft unmanned multicopter license is also required. Kim obtained the license at a local drone academy. The training expense is about 2.5 million won, and Namwon NongHyup supports the expense of obtaining the license.
Namwon NongHyup head Park Gi-yeol said, "Aerial pest control using drones is greatly helping solve labor shortages in super-aged rural areas," and said, "We will actively use smart farming technology to support sustainable agriculture and the development of local farming."