Life-Event Tree & Calendar Archive Underground Metro Farm

Underground Subway Smart Farming in Seoul: Metro Farms & Unmanned Automated Vegetable Kiosks at Hoehyeon Station

Md. Mamunur Reza By Md. Mamunur Reza (Assistant Program Director, APCU-BADC PARTNER & PhD Fellow)
• Nov 2021 • Hoehyeon Station, Seoul

Event Location: Hoehyeon Subway Station (Hoehyeon-Yeog স্টেশন), Underground Metro Network & Urban Smart Farms, Seoul, South Korea

How can high-density megacities produce clean, zero-pesticide vegetables without agricultural land? During my fellowship in Seoul, I conducted an in-depth field study of South Korea’s urban commercial greenhouses and the famous Underground Subway Smart Farm (Metro Farm) at Hoehyeon Station (শহর এলাকায় সাবওয়ে রেল স্টেশন, মাটির নিচে মানুষ বিহীন সবজি ও ফল উৎপাদন ও বিক্রয় কেন্দ্র).

Smart Farm & Commercial Vegetable Outlet at Hoehyeon Station, Seoul
Smart Farm & Commercial Vegetable Outlet at Hoehyeon Station, Seoul Inspecting the underground hydroponic plant factory and retail center inside Hoehyeon Subway Station.
Underground Multi-Tier LED Hydroponic Production
Underground Multi-Tier LED Hydroponic Production Sterile, climate-controlled vertical racks growing leafy greens beneath the streets of Seoul.
Unmanned Automated Vegetable & Salad Vending Kiosks
Unmanned Automated Vegetable & Salad Vending Kiosks Commuters purchasing freshly harvested hydroponic greens from unmanned self-service kiosks inside the subway station.
Urban Commercial Smart Greenhouse Production in Korea
Urban Commercial Smart Greenhouse Production in Korea High-tech urban greenhouse producing commercial vegetables and fruits with automated climate control.

Why Underground Subway Smart Farming Works

  • Zero Food Miles & Idle Space Utilization: Repurposes unused underground metro concourses into sterile, thermally stable plant factories steps away from thousands of daily commuters.
  • Unmanned Production & Retail (মানুষ বিহীন সবজি ও ফল উৎপাদন ও বিক্রয় কেন্দ্র): Automated LED photoperiods, closed-loop nutrient dosing, and cashless smart vending machines minimize labor overhead.
  • Blueprint for Megacities: Offers a compelling model for integrating clean urban food production into public transit hubs and commercial basements.

Md. Mamunur Reza
Md. Mamunur Reza
Assistant Program Director (Seed), APCU-BADC PARTNER • PhD Fellow, Atatürk University