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.
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Icheon
INTERVIEW 1 - [SEED MONOPOLY / NATIVE SEEDS]
Gangwon Agricultural Research and Extension Services (GARES)
The purpose of this interview was to explore the research goals, achievements, and broader impact of the Gangwon Agricultural Research and Extension Services, with a focus on native crops such as grape and darae (hardy kiwi). Through this conversation, the interview aimed to understand how GARES supports local farmers in enhancing crop cultivation, income, and adapting to climate change. It also highlighted the institute's efforts in breeding cold-resistant fruit varieties suitable for Gangwon’s mountainous terrain and changing climate. Particular attention was given to the value of indigenous seeds, the breeding strategies behind darae, and how this lesser-known fruit is being promoted in alignment with modern consumer trends. Broader agricultural challenges like seed industry monopolies, the Golden Seed Project, and issues surrounding terminator seeds and intellectual property were also discussed. Ultimately, the interview served as a valuable insight into sustainable, localized agricultural innovation in Korea.
INTERVIEW 2 - [NATIVE SEEDS]
Jeju Golden Kiwi Farmer
The purpose of this interview was to understand the practical challenges, successes, and broader implications of cultivating golden kiwi in Jeju from the perspective of a local farmer. The discussion explored Jeju’s climatic advantages, which allow for higher per-unit yield compared to mainland Korea, and examined the rising consumer preference for sweeter, larger fruits like golden kiwi over traditional green varieties. The interview also addressed difficulties such as pest management, market access, and the limitations of subsidy eligibility for farming families. Beyond cultivation, it highlighted the importance of farmer education, peer networks (e.g., through Meister schools), and collective information-sharing about varieties, pesticide use, and marketing strategies. Concerns were also raised about restrictive seed licensing systems, particularly regarding access to new domestic varieties, and the need for more transparent, farmer-friendly seed distribution and education mechanisms. Ultimately, the interview underscored how policy, climate, and community knowledge all shape the sustainability of Jeju’s kiwi farming industry.
INTERVIEW 3 - [SEED MONOPOLY / NATIVE SEEDS]
Korean Native Seed Library
This interview with the operator of a Korean Native Seed Library explores the mission to preserve the nation’s agricultural heritage. Driven by a sense of duty, the operator details the library's work: collecting heirloom seeds from rural farms, sharing them with the public to encourage wide cultivation, and sending samples to national seed vaults for long-term security. The conversation identifies climate change as the most urgent threat, with unpredictable weather causing crop damage and threatening yields. A second major challenge is the public's growing disconnect from agriculture, resulting in a critical shortage of future farmers. When advising a youth project, the operator stresses the importance of local, community-based action over purely online engagement, though she endorses an expert Q&A feature as a highly valuable tool for aspiring growers. Ultimately, the interview frames this work not as a simple hobby, but as a crucial fight for food security and national sovereignty, arguing that control over genetic resources is essential for a resilient future.
INTERVIEW 4 - [NATIVE SEEDS]
Asia Seed
This interview gave us an inside look at how a small Korean seed company, Asia Seed, grew into a major player in the industry through its participation in the Golden Seed Project. The conversation highlighted how government-backed R&D gave the company the resources to expand its staff, secure land and infrastructure, and develop standout domestic varieties, like the award-winning One-Stop winter cabbage and a blood sugar-lowering pepper now praised on national TV. We also learned about their innovations in crops like mini cucumbers, sweet corn, and high-sugar watermelons, all designed to match changing consumer tastes. Beyond their growth, the interview explored broader issues: how GSP helped revive Korea’s seed sovereignty after decades of foreign control, how inconsistent government policies have made funding unstable, and why local seed development is crucial for both farmers and consumers. The researcher emphasized that seed sovereignty isn’t just about business, it’s about food security, national resilience, and control over something as vital as life itself.
INTERVIEW 5 - [SEED MONOPOLY / NATIVE SEEDS]
Researcher Lee Mok-hee
The purpose of this interview with researcher Lee Mok-hee was to explore the background, objectives, and outcomes of Jeju’s domestic gold kiwi (Actinidia chinensis) breeding program. The conversation highlights the historical context of kiwi cultivation in Korea, the dominance of foreign varieties like Zespri from New Zealand, and the motivations behind developing locally adapted, royalty-free cultivars. The interview also covers key strengths of Jeju-bred varieties such as improved taste, storability, and climate suitability, as well as efforts to promote branding, farmer education, and potential for overseas export. Furthermore, the discussion touches on challenges in raising awareness of native fruits like darae (hardy kiwi), the importance of naming clarity, and strategies for sustainable crop development. Overall, the interview emphasizes the role of localized breeding, consumer preferences, and knowledge networks in strengthening seed sovereignty and supporting the growth of Korea’s indigenous agricultural industry.
INTERVIEW 6 - [SEED MONOPOLY]
Baekdudaegan Seed Vault
As part of my research on the growing threat of seed monopoly, I visited the Baekdudaegan Seed Vault, Korea’s fortress of biodiversity buried deep within the mountains. There, I interviewed seed preservation experts to better understand the national and global implications of losing control over native seeds. Our discussion explored how multinational corporations are increasingly patenting genetically modified seeds, limiting access for smallholder farmers, and endangering traditional agricultural practices. In contrast, the Seed Vault stands as a quiet but powerful symbol of resistance, protecting native Korean seeds from extinction and asserting sovereignty over the country’s food future. This interview revealed the urgent need to preserve genetic diversity and highlighted Korea’s role in the global movement to combat seed privatization.
INTERVIEW 7 - [SEED MONOPOLY / NATIVE SEEDS]
Hwamok Kim - Hwacheon
In Hwacheon, Gangwon-do, young farmer Kim Hwa-mok has been dedicated to agriculture since a very young age, currently focusing on cucumbers as his main crop. He, too, has experimented with native seeds to help preserve their lineage, but has temporarily paused these trials to concentrate on his primary farming operations. Looking ahead, Kim Hwa-mok holds a remarkable ambition: to one day open his own restaurant, crafting a menu that features crops grown from these very native seeds.
INTERVIEW 8 - [SEED MONOPOLY / NATIVE SEEDS]
Dohyun Choi - Cheongju
In Cheongju, young farmer Choi Do-hyun operates a greenhouse specializing in European salad greens. After a journey of pursuing various dreams and facing different challenges, he has now taken over his father's greenhouse to continue the family's agricultural legacy. He takes great pride in his work as a young farmer and has a strong interest in diversifying his cultivation to include a wider variety of crops in the future.
INTERVIEW 9 - [NATIVE SEEDS]
Eunsol Kim - Pyeongchang
Continuing her family's legacy in Pyeongchang, a young farmer cultivates native Darae and Myeongi-namul, a farm she took over from her parents. Her primary mission is to raise public awareness so that native Darae becomes accurately known and recognized by everyone.
INTERVIEW 10 - [SEED MONOPOLY / NATIVE SEEDS]
Hyunhui Kim - Sunchang
In Sunchang, farmer Kim Hyun-hee continues the lineage of native seeds through her involvement in a local seed-saving collective. She is a young farmer who, driven by a romanticized vision of agriculture, embarked on this path without any inheritance. Despite this challenging start, she is an impressive individual who now successfully makes a living from farming through her own efforts, all while holding the goal of becoming an even greater farmer in the future.
INTERVIEW 11 - [SEED MONOPOLY / NATIVE SEEDS]
Jooyong Jung - Buyeo
In Buyeo, young farmer Jung Ju-yong has centered his agricultural career on rice farming. To help continue the lineage of native seeds, he also experimented with cultivating various native beans. However, for financial reasons, he has temporarily shifted his focus back to his primary livelihood. Nevertheless, his passion for farming, which grew from his agricultural volunteer work as a university student, remains second to none.