On a misty morning, CAH rode the train to ‘Seo-cheon’. It takes 3hours from Seoul. Seo-chen is almost at the end of the Jang-hang line. Seo-cheon has beautiful nature. It has big mountains, beaches and grand farms. There, CAH met Lee Jeong- min (Horticultural Science 92) who graduated Horticultural Science in 1999. “Nice to meet you” with bright smile, Lee said. About 40 minutes later by truck, his house and his farm appeared. In this home, Lee, his wife, their daughter and son live. He is a farmer who raises mums in Seo-cheon. In addition, his mums sold at very high prices in Yang Jea dong Market. “Sometimes our mums got the best price among the all mums in Yang Jea dong Market.” His wife said. She (Kim Ah-jin) is also Chung-Ang University (CAU) Horticultural Science graduated student (Horticultural Science 94). They met in school as a senior and a junior. While Lee worked as a president student of the department, his wife Kim was a vice president student of the department. They met very often and finally after graduation, they married. During university, they did ‘special things’ together. One of the novice professors taught poorly. So they demonstrated for the professor’s resignation. Because of that, CAU gave only a chance to the professor. He had to get more than 5 point in next semester. If not, he must leave university. “It was very petty that the professor stayed. He did not show his passion in his lecture. He just read a book. I worried about my juniors. So I did it for my juniors.” Lee said.

They went down Seo-cheon in 2000. “After I graduate I work in company which I did not like. I think all people must do what they like to do. So after married her, we went down my home town.” Lee said. He lives Seo-cheon until he was elementary school student. After graduated, his family moved to Seoul. So in university day, he lived in Seoul. “Our parents disagree with go down to Seo-cheon. However we already decided it.” Actually, he did not think he will be farmer when he entered CAU. However, while he was in military, he thought deeply what he will do. Finally he decided he will become a farmer.

At the first time, he raised strawberries. He raised strawberries, because he likes strawberries. He said it was hard to do. They have a land which is his father’s. However his father remained in Seoul. So they could not get his father’s help. “I go to other region to learn technique for farming. I studied in other farm. Some times, I studied several days in other farm, to learn techniques. After that, I raised strawberries. First two years were good. We could get about 4million won from one vinyl house dong. However, after that, the prices decreased.” So he looked for other plants to grow. He wanted to do flowering grass from long time. Also, one of the resident who did mum growing said, mums was profitable. Although, at that time, agriculture technique center gave to him several young plants of mum. So he raised mums. After 2 years, his mums became the best mums. It is the second trial in the Seo-cheon. “Those days, in Seo-cheon, there were no vinyl house farms. Also, there were no flowering grass farms.” These trials are more difficult than first-time farming. He studied himself through books and the internet, and asked people who knew about mum growing. However, theory and real warfare were different. “It was very hard, when the problem occurred. If there was person, who knows mums growing, it would more easily. However, it was not. To solve it, I saw a lot of book and learnt by many people. Especially, Park Ha-seong, who worked in a mum examination room, he helps me very much.” Now he harvested two times. Therefore he said now he can raise mum better than first. “Also agriculture technique center support our farming. To grow mum, the house temperature must regular. So heaters need. However this use many oil, it cost a lot. To save it, they support special vinyl to keep heat.”  

There are lots of flowers. Nevertheless, why did he raise Mum? “Korea is not an advanced country. So the flower demands are not regular. Korea buys flowers when they have a special event like a graduation, entrance ceremony and so on very short time. However, mums are not like that. It needs to maintain a regular price, and seldom change. Also, its demands are regular. Therefore I chose mums. Also many flowers’ are from other countries. So they must pay for that. However our mums are from Korea. The Name is <Sinma>. It is very petty there are little Korean flower.” He worried about the country side though. “The government must support the country side. Now many country-side residents are old people. An Example, in my town, my direct senior is over 60 years old. Also, the government must think about long term plan, not short plan. Farmers do not like short income, they want regular income. And government support right farmer. They do not look real thing. They must choose which the honest farmer is.”

When CAH asked what you want to say to junior. He said “When you are young. Do what you want. There is no time and no money went you grow up. Also think what you will do. In addition prepare it perfectly. And “Do your best” I wrote my bag “Do my best” when I university student. Try to become the best person of the one field.

 His next goal is Japan. Japan is the most mum demand country. Because, they have their own shrine and they care every day. So they demand a lot of mums. He will export it with the man who is the best farmer for mum growing. “My last goal is becoming best farmer in flowering grass. Also I hope many young people go down the country side and farm. And I will plant dwarf tree in a pot. It takes very long time to plant. So I can not do that now. However I will do it when I grand father.” Lee said.
To take a picture, CAH, Lee and Kim moved. However, in Lee’s vinyl house, mums were not left! “We were using the other land to use underground water, which can save oil. However, because we use it all day, the other houses’ water did not come out. Therefore, we could not use underground water. So we decided move our land.” Last year, he planted mums in 5 vinyl dongs. Also they raised potatoes in the other 5 vinyl dongs. However, this year, they will build 8 vinyl house dongs. Instead, they cover vinyl more tick to save heat. They will also plant Freesia. Even each vinyl house dong give ten million won, it is hard to treat all mum in vinyl house dong by two people. So taking picture was doing in other vinyl house which plant by Lee’s friend. “He is my Seoul friend. He followed me after we settled here. Also I teach him.” It was petty that can not see Lee’s farm. However, those farms are also from his effort. So it can be cover sorry mind.  

“Our mums will bloom in October. Come by again!” as the first meet, he said with bright smile. “I put the whole mind to my plant. I did not passing over my plant.” This is the answered when CAH asked what a key of the best mums is. He addresses people like this too. May be it affect his face. As he affect mums, he also affected by mums, so it makes his face brightly.