Why Agricultural Marketing Matters More Than Ever

Even the best agricultural products struggle to generate income if their value is not properly conveyed to consumers.

Many farmers have spent their entire lives focused on production, with little exposure to marketing or branding.

This gap has become more visible as consumer behavior shifts toward storytelling, trust, and direct communication with producers.

Generative AI Training for Farmers in Dangjin

The Dangjin Agricultural Technology Center, led by Director Kim Seok-gwang, organized a training session titled Agricultural Marketing Using Generative Artificial Intelligence.

The program was conducted by Yoon Sun, representative of the Rural Convergence Value Research Institute.

The goal was clear: move beyond theory and equip farmers with skills they can immediately apply to real sales.

Day 1: Understanding AI and Building Marketing Strategy

The first session focused on lowering the psychological barrier toward AI.

Farmers compared generative AI tools such as ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity, learning which ones could be directly applied to agricultural marketing.

They practiced prompt engineering and developed farm-specific brand stories through SWOT analysis and 4P strategy design.

Day 2: Creating Visual, Audio, and Video Content

The second session emphasized content creation that resonates with modern consumers.

Participants produced promotional images using tools like Nanobanana and ImageFX, and even created farm brand songs with Suno AI.

Simple video production was practiced using Vrew by inserting scripts, making video marketing approachable even for beginners.

Day 3: Automating Marketing and Sharing Results

The final session focused on optimization and sustainability.

Farmers built simple AI assistants to automate parts of their marketing workflow.

They also learned how to convert text into audio and video formats for direct uploads to social media platforms.

Voices from the Training Field

One participant shared that AI had always felt distant, but this training made it practical and approachable.

Creating promotional images, songs, and videos helped transform vague marketing ideas into concrete action plans.

Another participant appreciated that the program focused on real-world application rather than simply introducing new technology.

AI Marketing and the Future of Direct Farm Sales

Consumer trends are rapidly shifting toward freshness, local food, and trust-based purchasing.

Especially among younger generations, storytelling and transparency have become decisive buying factors.

Direct sales allow farmers to reduce distribution costs, strengthen trust, and communicate directly with consumers.

Building Sustainable Agriculture Through Digital Skills

Using AI in agricultural marketing is no longer optional but a core capability for sustainable farming.

As the saying goes, even a pearl must be strung to shine.

By applying generative AI to branding and sales, farmers can turn their hard work into stable income and long-term growth.

When a 1,000 Won Purchase Becomes an Investment Clue

The 1,000 won you spend through a QR code payment often brings a sense of satisfaction for making a cost-effective purchase.

Yet, while some people simply consume with that same amount, others use it as a signal to grow their investments.

There was a time when everyone rushed to Daiso searching for sold-out items, unaware that the company’s stock price was quietly multiplying more than tenfold.

Stock Investing Hidden in Everyday Life

Stock investment isn’t limited to staring at charts or decoding complicated financial statements.

It exists in everyday spaces like aisles, shelves, and price tags. The key is not the front of the product, but the small manufacturer label printed on the back.

The answer to investing is often closer than expected, sitting right inside your shopping basket.

Flip the Product and Read the Back Label

Instead of just buying items, this approach encourages you to flip them over and look closely.

In as little as ten seconds, you can identify whether the manufacturer is a publicly traded company or a private one.

This simple habit turns shopping into a fast and intuitive research process.

Why Sold-Out Items Can Trigger Stock Price Surges

Low prices combined with massive volume create a powerful business model.

Selling a product with a 500 won margin may seem insignificant, but when it reaches millions of units, the impact becomes intimidating.

Sold-out products often signal real demand, but not all popularity translates into sustainable growth.

Separating Trends from Real Value

Not every sold-out item leads to a rising stock price.

This book explains how to distinguish fleeting hype from genuine performance by observing repeat purchases, brand expansion, and long-term demand.

Understanding this difference helps avoid bubbles and focus on companies with lasting value.

A Practical Daiso-Based Investment Routine

The investment routine outlined here starts with simple observation rather than complex analysis.

You collect keywords like “Daiso recommended items” from news articles, online communities, social media, and videos.

Then, in just a few minutes, you verify the company behind the product using basic financial platforms.

From Buying Products to Buying Stocks

The process continues by testing the product yourself with a 1,000 won purchase.

If it delivers real quality, you consider the stock before it becomes headline news.

Even fractional trading allows you to experience stock ownership starting from a very small amount.

Beyond Daiso: Everyday Spaces as Investment Markets

This method doesn’t stop at Daiso.

Convenience stores, Olive Young, and other everyday retail spaces become living stock markets.

Products loved by young consumers, trending snacks, or popular cosmetics all serve as real-time indicators of brand power.

The Korean-Style Peter Lynch Approach

Inspired by the idea of investing in what you know, this approach adapts that philosophy to modern Korean consumer culture.

The easiest investment often starts with familiar products you already trust and use.

By the end, you begin to see consumption not as an expense, but as observation training for smarter investing.

From Consumer to Lifestyle Investor

As this book concludes, the reader is no longer a consumer intimidated by stocks.

Instead, you become a lifestyle investor who naturally observes the market through daily choices.

The simplest and most certain treasure hunt, starting with just 1,000 won, begins right here.

What Is Naver’s Omni-Modal AI?

Naver’s omni-modal AI represents a fundamental redesign of information processing. Unlike earlier AI systems that handled text, images, and voice independently, this model learns and reasons across all data types simultaneously from the training stage.

This approach enables the AI to grasp situations, context, and environments more holistically, similar to how humans naturally combine visual cues, tone of voice, and surrounding conditions during communication.

Omni-Modal vs Multi-Modal Technology

Multi-modal AI, which has become common in recent years, connects different data types such as text, audio, and images after processing them separately. While effective, this method can result in fragmented context.

Omni-modal AI, by contrast, treats all inputs as part of one recognition system from the outset. If multi-modal AI is like assembling puzzle pieces, omni-modal AI is like seeing the full picture from the beginning.

Human-Like Context Understanding

One of the most notable strengths of omni-modal AI is its similarity to human cognition. Humans do not rely solely on spoken words; we interpret facial expressions, voice tone, visual surroundings, and situational context all at once.

Naver’s omni-modal AI mirrors this process, allowing it to infer user intent even when questions are vague or imperfectly phrased, reducing reliance on strict prompt engineering.

Naver’s Development Strategy

Rather than launching a massive model immediately, Naver plans to begin with a lightweight omni-modal version. This phased approach focuses on validating the new architecture before gradually expanding capabilities using advanced GPUs and larger datasets.

Although the official model name has not yet been revealed, it is expected to build upon Naver’s existing HyperClova X foundation, which has already proven its reliability in large-scale language processing.

Connection to Korea’s Independent AI Initiative

Naver’s omni-modal direction aligns closely with the government-led Independent AI Foundation Model project. As a core participant, Naver Cloud is developing an Omni Foundation Model in collaboration with video AI specialist Twelve Labs.

This initiative includes plans for an AI agent marketplace and the release of lightweight, inference-optimized open-source models, aiming to strengthen Korea’s sovereign AI capabilities.

What This Means for the AI Ecosystem

Experts suggest that Naver’s omni-modal AI could become a turning point for generative AI in Korea. By eliminating information loss caused by separated processing, the model is expected to deliver more accurate and context-aware outputs.

As the launch approaches, attention is growing around how this technology may shift the balance from following global tech leaders to building competitive, independent AI infrastructure. The end of this month may mark the beginning of a new chapter in human–AI interaction.

Full-Frame Mirrorless Camera Recommendation: Nikon Zf 24-70

What if you could find a mirrorless camera that fits today’s sensibilities, while still offering a full-frame sensor and a classic design? The Nikon Zf delivered exactly that during my summer photo trip in Seoul.

Emotional Design With Modern Performance

The Nikon Zf is beautiful from the first impression. The classic exterior inspired by the FM2, physical dials, and matte body texture make the entire shooting flow feel analog and intentional.

But the Zf is not just about design. It packs a 24.5MP full-frame sensor, EXPEED 7, 5-axis IBIS, 4K 30p video recording, and eye/face detection AF—so it performs like a modern hybrid camera.

1/800 – ISO 160 – f/6.3 – 57mm, Nikon Zf NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/4 S

1/80 – ISO 800 – f/4.5 – 39mm, Nikon Zf NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/4 S

S Mode + IBIS: Capturing Waterfalls After the Rain at Suseongdong Valley

I visited Suseongdong Valley early in the morning right after the rain. Using Shutter Priority (S) mode, I naturally captured the flow of water.

Thanks to the 5-axis IBIS, I could shoot handheld without a tripod while keeping the images steady.

1/8 – ISO 100 – f/16 – 70mm, Nikon Zf NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/4 S

1/4 – ISO 100 – f/14 – 70mm, Nikon Zf NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/4 S

1/250 – ISO 200 – f/5.6 – 24mm, Nikon Zf NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/4 S

1/320 – ISO 800 – f/9 – 55mm, Nikon Zf NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/4 S

Inwang Mountain, faintly visible beyond the mist, held detail well even after post-processing. It was a moment where the Zf’s dynamic range felt genuinely reliable.

Dedicated Monochrome: Light and Shadow in Seochon Hanok Alleys

In Seochon’s public hanok and alleyways, I tested the Zf’s monochrome shooting. The Zf has a dedicated monochrome mode that feels optimized for black-and-white expression, not just simple desaturation.

It’s also easy to use—turn the dial and shoot. That simplicity makes monochrome a creative choice you can use often.

1/320 – ISO 800 – f/10 – 70mm, Nikon Zf NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/4 S

[MC Monochrome]

1/160 – ISO 800 – f/6.3 – 70mm, Nikon Zf NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/4 S

[MC Monochrome]

The curves of the roofs and the texture of the walls made me appreciate black-and-white again. I could feel the depth that a full-frame sensor captures in tonal transitions.

Nikon Imaging Recipes: Coloring Nodeul Island’s Sunset

At Nodeul Island, the sunset timing was perfect. I used Nikon’s Imaging Recipes feature, which works like downloadable color profiles for photos and videos.

The best part is being able to apply the recipe directly in-camera while shooting, so you can check the mood and final look on the spot without waiting for post-processing.

1/80 – ISO 110 – f/4 – 70mm, Nikon Zf NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/4 S

[Nikon Imaging Recipe : At Dusk_Woo ]

1/250 – ISO 320 – f/4 – 31.5mm, Nikon Zf NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/4 S

[Shot in A Mode]

1/80 – ISO 100 – f/4 – 29.5mm, Nikon Zf NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/4 S

[Nikon Imaging Recipe : CineM_LUIZCLAS ]

1/80 – ISO 100 – f/4 – 29.5mm, Nikon Zf NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/4 S

[Nikon Imaging Recipe : At Dusk_Woo ]

I used At Dusk_Woo and CineM_LUIZCLAS at Nodeul Island. Even in the same location, the mood changes dramatically depending on the recipe.

1/80 – ISO 110 – f/4 – 31mm, Nikon Zf NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/4 S

[Nikon Imaging Recipe : At Dusk_Woo ]

1/80 – ISO 125 – f/4 – 62mm, Nikon Zf NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/4 S

[Nikon Imaging Recipe : At Dusk_Woo ]

For beginners, creators, and even experienced photographers, having emotional color completed in-camera is a huge advantage.

Low-Light Test: Nodeul Island Night View

As darkness fell, Nodeul Island turned into a completely different scene. Night view shooting depends on high-ISO performance and clean noise handling.

The Zf kept stable colors and held detail even at ISO 3200 and above. Combined with IBIS, handheld shooting felt much more practical than expected.

1/125 – ISO 500 – f/4 – 52mm, Nikon Zf NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/4 S

1/80 – ISO 1000 – f/4 – 70mm, Nikon Zf NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/4 S

[Nikon Imaging Recipe : At Dusk_Woo ]

1/80 – ISO 3200 – f/4 – 29mm, Nikon Zf NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/4 S

1/4 – ISO 720 – f/4 – 70mm, Nikon Zf NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/4 S

Full-frame light gathering + EXPEED 7 processing helped keep silhouettes, shadows, and background city lights clear and layered.

1/60 – ISO 320 – f/4 – 70mm, Nikon Zf NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/4 S

Conclusion: A Full-Frame Mirrorless Camera That Balances Emotion and Practicality

The Nikon Zf harmonizes emotion and specs, photos and videos, design and practicality. From natural scenery to urban night views, the depth and color expression felt clearly “full-frame.”

1/400 – ISO 100 – f/5 – 70mm, Nikon Zf 24-70mm f/4 S

If you want emotional photos, if you create both vlogs and video content, and if you want analog design with modern features, the Nikon Zf is worth a serious look. I hope you get to meet the Nikon Zf.

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Why the Fujifilm X-E5 Is So Popular

The Fujifilm X-E5 is incredibly popular both in Korea and internationally, so much so that it's causing open runs. Despite its small size and lightweight design, it houses Fujifilm's latest image sensor and processor, delivering excellent image and video quality.

Since it uses the same image sensor and processor as the Fuji X100VI and Fuji X-T50 II, it provides nearly identical photo and video results. The key difference is that the Fujifilm X-E5 offers interchangeable lenses.

Hands-On Experience at Namdaemun Camera Market

I had the opportunity to experience the Fujifilm X-E5 firsthand, thanks to a generous 2-hour loan from the owner of “Digital Changsin,” an authorized Fujifilm dealer in the Namdaemun camera market.

Size, Weight, and Premium Build

The camera’s dimensions are 124.9 × 72.9 × 39.1mm, and it weighs 445g. It’s 58g heavier than the Fuji X-T50 II due to the use of aluminum on the top and bottom. This gives it a premium feel—no “plastic” sensation—just a solid metal frame with a body that fits in your hand.

Controls and Rangefinder-Like Shutter Feel

There’s a lever on the front that looks like a timer lever, but it’s actually a function button. You can trigger up to five functions depending on how you flick or hold it.

Pressing the shutter button evokes the feel of a rangefinder film camera. The shutter sound and tactile response are very satisfying and genuinely “film-like.”

Instead of a dedicated mode dial, the aperture and shutter speed dials include an “A” position. This makes it easy to switch between shutter priority, aperture priority, and P mode by dial settings alone.

EVF and Shooting Display

The EVF is a 0.39-inch OLED with a resolution of 2.36 million dots. It’s lower than the X100VI on paper, but in real use it didn’t feel uncomfortable, and my eyes adjusted quickly.

Shooting information and the AF point are displayed at the bottom, which keeps the view clean.

180° Tilting Screen for Selfies and Self-Video

The Fujifilm X-E5 features a 180-degree tilting screen. I knew it had a 3-inch tilting touch TFT LCD, but I didn’t realize it tilted all the way up. It uses a mechanism similar to the Sony A6000 series, where the screen moves back and then up.

This type of tilt-up is slightly slower because you must pull it back before lifting, but the payoff is huge: it’s very useful for selfies and self-video recording.

Quick Access: The Q Button

There’s a Q button on the far right that gives quick access to key functions. It’s also customizable, so you can tailor it to your shooting style.

Film Simulation and Film Recipes

The biggest strength of Fujifilm cameras is film simulation. It’s not just a generic filter—Fujifilm’s color science is digitized so you can apply it like a film look, with differences in saturation, hue, shadows, and highlights.

The X-E5 even has a dedicated film simulation dial. Since you can’t fit all 21 simulations on a physical dial, about 11 are included, and the rest can be assigned to FS1–FS3 like function presets.

If you still don’t find the color you want, you can build your own look through “film recipes” using grain effect, color chrome effect, and tone curve controls. This makes shooting feel more intentional, and encourages you to focus on color and mood rather than heavy post-processing.

AF Speed and Practical Handling

Fujifilm AF is often described as slower than Canon or Sony, so it’s generally better for controlled subjects: daily life, landscapes, street, portraits, and casual video—rather than fast athletes or wildlife.

That said, it’s not “too slow.” Modern Canon and Sony bodies are simply extremely fast, so Fuji feels slower by comparison. In normal shooting, I didn’t feel stressed by AF performance.

I could adjust AF area size and position easily using the rear joystick. The wheel dial lets you change the AF area from pinpoint to wide coverage quickly. It can also capture a vertical area selection, similar to methods seen on Olympus cameras.

Face, head, and even torso recognition is supported, making it easier to keep focus on people in motion. When I tested it on a passerby, it accurately detected the head even with a hat on.

Recommended Lens: XF23mmF2.8 R WR

A small camera pairs best with a pancake prime lens, and 35mm-equivalent is an all-rounder focal length. The XF23mmF2.8 R WR is exactly that: compact, lightweight, with a smooth aperture feel.

XF23mmF2.8 R WR / f2.8

XF23mmF2.8 R WR / f16

Even though this is an APS-C camera, the out-of-focus rendering is pleasing. At f2.8, the bokeh shows a slight swirling character, which can look very “filmic” depending on the scene.

40.2MP High Resolution: Cropping and Digital Zoom Convenience

The photo size is 7728 × 5152 from a 40.2MP sensor. File size was around 23MB, which felt smaller than expected. The main benefit of high resolution is cropping flexibility—digital zoom becomes very practical.

I zoomed into the upper right corner, then the center, and the detail held up cleanly. You can even see Bukhan Mountain behind Bukak Mountain in the distance. There was haze that day due to moisture; on a drier day it would have looked even clearer.

High ISO Noise Performance and 5-Axis IBIS

In bright daylight, smartphone and camera results can look similar. The real difference shows indoors and at night. I shot indoors and zoomed into the mannequin.

ISO 6400

ISO 12800

Noise stayed very clean up to ISO 6400, and even ISO 12800 wasn’t as distracting as expected. For indoor and night shooting, this is a strong advantage.

1/3 second

The 5-axis IBIS is also impressive. With 40.2MP, stabilization needs to be strong, and the camera still held steady even at 1/3 second handheld.

Video Switching: No Dedicated Record Button

I’ll cover video in more detail later, but one thing surprised me: there’s no separate video button. To switch to video, you press the DRIVE/DELETE button, scroll down, and select video at the bottom.

It’s a bit inconvenient at first, but it aligns with the concept of this camera. It feels like a photo-first body that also happens to do video well.

Conclusion: A Daily Camera With Fuji Color and True Portability

The Fujifilm X-E5 is a daily camera that balances performance and portability. The best part of carrying it around was the color—film simulation first, film recipes second—followed by portability. It’s so small and light that it feels like a camera you can keep with you every day.

The design is also a big part of the attraction. The lack of a dedicated video button can be annoying, but I adapted quickly. Low-light performance, low noise, and strong stabilization were all satisfying.

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Award Overview

Presented by Monthly Question, the 2nd Question Photography Award honors photographers whose work raises fundamental questions about human life and society.

Award Name: The 2nd Question Photography Award

Award Winner: Photographer Lee Kang-san

Award Ceremony Date & Time: October 18th, 2025 (Saturday) 2:00 PM

Award Ceremony Location: Gallery Index (45 Insadong-gil, 3rd Floor / T. 02-722-6635)

Creative Support Fund: ₩3,000,000

Organizer: Monthly Question

Contact: Monthly Question / Editor-in-Chief Min Byung-mo

Reason for Selection

Lee Kang-san approaches the space of Yeoinsook not as a distant observer, but as a companion who has shared time and daily life with its inhabitants. His photography captures social alienation and the fragile tension of survival through long-term engagement rather than momentary observation.

His recent work, Yeoinsook 2 – The Time of Humans, marks a significant transition from black and white to color photography. This shift deepens the sense of time and space while conveying both human dignity and resilient vitality within landscapes shaped by decline.

Above all, his work successfully narrows the distance between truth and subject through ethical relationships grounded in trust. This practice stands as a rare and exemplary case within Korean documentary photography, expanding the shrinking boundaries of the genre.

The selection committee unanimously agrees that Lee Kang-san’s work represents a meaningful achievement that questions human dignity and the fundamental meaning of life.

Selection Committee: Um Sang-bin, Lee Kyu-sang, Lee Il-woo

Winner’s Biography

Born in Geumsan, Chungnam in 1958, Lee Kang-san has devoted his career to human-centered documentary photography.

He received the Onbit Photography Award in 2021 and the Bronze Prize at the 2022 Budapest International Foto Awards (BIFA) in the Book–Documentary category for the Yeoinsook photobook.

His solo exhibitions include Looking with the Heart (2007, Gallery Photo Class) and Yeoinsook.2 – The Time of Humans (2025, Gallery Index). He has also participated in numerous group exhibitions, including the 2025 Daejeon Photo special theme exhibition Cities & Humans.

His major photobooks include Yeoinsook (Noonbit, 2021) and House – A Room on Earth (Photography Art Publishing, 2017). He is a member of Onbit Documentary and the Korean Writers Association.

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