Residents of senior centers in Bucheon, South Korea, have expressed frustration over malfunctioning smart farm machines designed to autonomously water crops. Originally intended to enhance community engagement and provide fresh vegetables for elderly residents, these machines have failed to deliver, with many showing signs of breakdown. For instance, one center visitor described the situation, noting that the machines do not draw water as advertised, forcing seniors to water the plants manually, leading to further sanitation issues due to stagnant water.

The Bucheon city's initiative to promote smart farming in senior centers began in 2021, providing 45 units at a cost of about 1 billion won. However, an inquiry revealed that several machines are currently inoperative, particularly following the closure of the supplying company in January last year which rendered repairs impossible. Additionally, issues regarding inadequate management and insufficient space for the machines have further complicated their use, leading to several centers returning the equipment after facing difficulties in maintenance and unpleasant odors from unclean machines.

Critics, including local council member Kwon Nae-kyung, have remarked on the oversight in pushing this initiative despite foreseeable challenges in implementation. With many centers struggling to maintain the machines and others lacking space, a report showed that only 7 out of 37 remaining centers wish to continue the smart farm program. The city officials have stated they are conducting assessments to understand the demand and utilization of smart farming in these centers to determine future directions for the initiative.