植物工場Plant Factoryは海外ではVertical Farmingとも呼ばれており、韓国でも2009年頃を境に完全人工光型植物工場の商業施設が増えてきた。
政府による最初の資金援助を行ったプロジェクトが韓国の南極観測基地（世宗基地セジョンキチ, Sejong）に設置した人工光型施設である。
また2011年には研究向けの植物工場施設も稼働をスタートした。同施設は多段式太陽光利用型のタワー型植物工場と併設する建物内に完全人工光型植物工場の２タイプにて様々な植物が栽培されている。
写真：韓国の国立農業科学院より引用
Plant Factory, another name for vertical farming, is a compound word where "plant" indicates natural produce and "factory" constitutes modern industry.
Vertical Farm refers to systemic farming where agricultural goods are produced in the artificially managed growing environment (light, air, heat, and nutrients) of a controlled facility.
It is similar to manufacturing goods in that a factory-like farm produces goods in an optimal environment through exact measurements and management.
Another very attractive feature is the ability to control the quality of goods.
In 2009, the Rural Development Administration, in collaboration with Marine Recearch Institute developed and dispatched the Vertical Farm to the King Sejong Antarctic Station. It was Korea's first government sponsored vertical farm.
In 2011, the National Academy of Agricultural Science under the Rural Development set up a vertical farm in a total floor area of 396 m2 desingned for research.
