Young farmer Lee Kwang-jae is producing processed soybean goods in Jeokseong-myeon, Paju, to add value to the region's traditional Jangdan soybeans [1, 2].

This shift toward agricultural processing represents a growing trend among young farmers to increase profitability by moving beyond raw crop sales. By creating high-margin products, farmers can better sustain family legacies while appealing to modern consumer tastes.

Lee works alongside his father, a master of Jangdan soybean cultivation, to maintain the quality of the crop [1, 2]. The operation focuses on both the cultivation of the beans and the development of a product line that includes soybean and red bean spreads, as well as soybean snacks [1, 2].

Lee has spent six years since returning to farming to refine these processes [1]. He emphasizes the necessity of meticulous field maintenance to ensure crop quality. "Weeding is an essential task to help the soybeans grow," Lee said [1].

Beyond the technical requirements of farming, Lee noted that the regional identity of the crop provides a sense of professional fulfillment. "I have pride in the fact that I grow Paju Jangdan soybeans," Lee said [1].

By managing the entire pipeline from seed to snack, the operation reduces reliance on external wholesalers and captures more of the retail value. This vertical integration allows the farm to maintain strict quality control over the ingredients used in their processed spreads, and snacks [1, 2].

“I have pride in the fact that I grow Paju Jangdan soybeans”

The transition from raw agriculture to value-added processing is a strategic response to the volatility of crop prices. By diversifying into processed goods like spreads and snacks, young farmers in South Korea are attempting to modernize traditional agriculture and create sustainable business models that can survive the challenges of an aging farming population.