TYM (Co-CEOs: Hiyong Kim, Dohoon Kim / 002900), a leading agricultural machinery company, announced on the 17th that it donated an ‘RGO-690’ autonomous rice transplanter to the Department of Agricultural Life Industry at Seogwipo Industrial Science High School on March 14.

The donation ceremony was held at Sinpyeong Ecological Experience School in Daejeong-eup, Seogwipo City, Jeju, with more than 50 attendees, including TYM’s Head of Domestic Business Division Dong-ik Kim, ESG Strategy Team Leader Do-geun Kim, Jeju Vice Governor for Political Affairs Ae-sook Kim, Jeju Superintendent of Education Kwang-soo Kim, Vice Chair of the Jeju Provincial Council’s Education Committee Byung-woo Yang, members of the Jeju Regional Development Committee, the Generational Integration Counseling Education Welfare Research Association, Principal Kyung-sam Moon of Seogwipo Industrial Science High School, and other stakeholders. The event also featured the launch ceremony of the ‘Sinpyeong Ecological Learning Community’ for local residents and Jeju citizens to promote ecological learning.

Seogwipo Industrial Science High School is a public specialized high school in Jeju, with its Department of Agricultural Life Industry dedicated to fostering talent in the agri-bio sector. The school requested the donation to support student training and to help revive rice farming, which is disappearing in Jeju. In line with its commitment to nurturing talent and advancing agriculture, TYM decided to donate its autonomous rice transplanter.

Building on this ODA project, TYM plans to expand into commercial sales. The company visited the headquarters and factory of Indonesia’s largest agricultural machinery distributor and service provider in Jakarta to discuss concrete partnership opportunities for both government and private sector projects. TYM also conducted on-site inspections of showrooms and dealer networks to gather market intelligence and customer insights, laying the groundwork for a robust market entry.

Indonesia, the world’s fourth most populous country, has over 30% of its workforce employed in agriculture. Under the “Indonesian Vision 2045,” the nation is pursuing self-sufficient and sustainable agricultural systems as a core national strategy. Following its success in the Philippines, TYM is positioning Indonesia as a central hub in Southeast Asia to accelerate its global market diversification. In particular, TYM’s biodiesel tractor is expected to be a key growth driver for expanding exports within the Indonesian market.

Hogyeom Kim, the Head of TYM’s Global Business at TYM, stated, “Following our successful entry into the Philippine market, we are accelerating our expansion in Southeast Asia by developing products tailored to Indonesia. By pursuing both ODA projects and commercial sales, we aim to increase our global market share rapidly.” He added, “Based on trust with local governments and stakeholders, TYM will contribute to the advancement of Indonesian agriculture and establish itself as the most trusted brand among customers.”

The TYM ‘RGO-690’ is Korea’s first autonomous rice transplanter to pass the national comprehensive performance test for autonomous agricultural machinery in May 2023, earning the title of ‘National Certification No. 1’. TYMICT (CEO: Sowon Kim), TYM’s subsidiary specializing in advanced agricultural machinery, independently developed the core technologies for autonomous driving, including the Inertial Navigation System (INS), route generation and tracking software, and hardware such as the autonomous driving controller and console.

Through this donation, TYM aims not only to contribute to the advancement of Korean agriculture and rural development, but also to promote its brand and products, building affinity with future agricultural professionals (students at agricultural high schools) and securing potential future customers. The donated rice transplanter will be used for education and rice planting at the 7,000-pyeong (approx. 23,100 m²) practice field at Sinpyeong Ecological Experience School, and the crops harvested will be used for community revenue projects.

A TYM representative stated, “We hope this donation of an autonomous rice transplanter will enhance the agricultural machinery skills of Seogwipo Industrial Science High School students and contribute to the successful launch and operation of the Sinpyeong Ecological Learning Community. TYM will continue to support specialized agricultural high schools and local communities, foster ongoing cooperation, and expand brand and product awareness among potential customers, as we strive to become the No. 1 brand in the domestic market.”