"Uiseong Agriculture to Be Reimagined with AI"...Choi Youchul's Bold Bet on Data-Driven Agricultural Policy

Choi Youchul, the People Power Party candidate for Uiseong County Mayor, has announced a core agricultural pledge: an "AI-based digital transformation of agriculture and the establishment of a sustainable rural economy" in response to the climate crisis and changes in the demographic structure of rural areas.

"From Field to Data" Choi Yucheol, Uiseong Agriculture's 'AI Great Transformation' Gamble Photo by Candidate's Office

원본보기 아이콘

Choi stated, "Uiseong agriculture has been the foundation supporting the local economy and community, but amid climate change, an aging population, labor shortages, and changing distribution environments, a new transformation is urgently needed." He added, "By integrating artificial intelligence (AI) across production, management, distribution, and talent development, I will reshape agriculture into a stable income industry and a future growth sector."

The first pillar of his pledge is the expansion of AI smart farming. Focusing on Uiseong’s flagship crops such as apples and garlic, Choi plans to introduce systems that collect and analyze weather, soil, and growth data in real time for both open-field and facility cultivation. He also aims to establish an AI-powered pest and disease prediction system to minimize damage caused by abnormal weather. Through these measures, Choi seeks to enhance the production stability of farms and strengthen disaster response capabilities.

Choi also identified innovation in the distribution structure as a key task. He pledged to upgrade the Agricultural Product Processing Center (APC) into an AI-based smart APC, automating sorting, grading, and shipping processes. By leveraging big data for demand forecasting and price analysis, shipment timing can be optimized. This strategy aims to move beyond agriculture focused solely on production, shifting to a data-driven distribution strategy that transforms farm income structures.

Choi plans to strengthen the foundation for young farmers to settle in Uiseong. He will establish educational and research hubs that combine smart farming training with hands-on AI technology demonstrations, systematically nurturing young talent equipped with data-driven agricultural management skills. Additionally, he explained plans to create a self-reliant settlement model linking housing and farmland, enabling young people to put down stable roots in Uiseong.

The pledge also includes new income models to stabilize farm management. Choi intends to combine AI with renewable energy, using the revenues from renewables as a resource for stabilizing farm operations. He also committed to building an AI-based agricultural risk management system that addresses disaster response and cost reduction simultaneously. Furthermore, he plans to digitalize the farm machinery rental service, improving efficiency and accessibility regardless of location or distance.

Choi emphasized the importance of strengthening the brand competitiveness and export foundation of Uiseong’s agricultural products. He plans to establish an integrated brand and develop high-value-added processed foods based on consumer trend analysis, while leveraging Uiseong’s strategic location as a hinterland for the new Daegu-Gyeongbuk Airport to build an AI-powered cold-chain logistics system and export-oriented distribution network. For online distribution, an AI recommendation and sales system will be introduced to directly connect farmers with the consumer market.

Choi Youchul stated, "AI is a key tool that will fundamentally change agricultural productivity and income structures," adding, "I am committed to transforming Uiseong agriculture into a future industry that combines technology, energy, and distribution, ensuring stable work for farmers and bringing young people back to rural areas."

Choi’s pledge is noteworthy in that it goes beyond merely expanding smart farming; it envisions integrating Uiseong’s production methods, distribution structure, youth settlement, and farm income models into a unified digital ecosystem.

In particular, with the climate crisis and population aging simultaneously pressuring rural areas, AI-driven data-based agricultural policy is less a choice than a survival strategy. However, the effectiveness of the pledge will depend not just on technology adoption, but on how thoroughly it is designed to deliver tangible income increases, educational support, and reductions in operational costs that farmers can truly experience.

© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.