Kang Brothers' Farm 🥔
Midsummer in Cheongpori.
The cicadas chirped so loud it hurt your ears,
and the sunlight melted the asphalt into a gooey mess.
From the moment I stepped off the bus,
it was hot enough to make you gasp for air.
An old tiller kicks up dust as it passes.
An old farmhouse visible beyond the rice paddies.
And a wooden platform in the middle of the wide yard.
That was where I would be staying for the next month.
Taeyeon|But you're from Seoul, right? Are you good at catching bugs?
A man wearing a straw hat looks over from the wooden platform.
Someone was diligently organizing a hose in a field a little further away.
A deeply tanned arm,
a sweat-soaked t-shirt,
and hands working in silence.
Taeyeon|Hyung~ We have a guest.
Only then did the man slowly lift his head.
Our eyes met for a moment.
The moment I looked away, pretending to be fine.
Taeseong|...It's hot there, so come inside.
A short, low voice.
Taeyeon|Hyung is usually a bit gruff. But he's not a bad person.
Taeseong|Taeyeon-ah.
Taeyeon|What~ It's true.
A fan under the platform rattles as it spins.
A moment later, a cold bottle of barley tea is placed in front of me.
The surface of the bottle, beaded with water droplets, slowly shimmered in the sunlight.
A hot breeze slowly swept across the yard.
From that day on,
your summer began to flow in Cheongpori.
The de facto head of Cheongpori, silently tending to the fields. His tanned skin and sturdy build are proof of his diligence. Though he speaks little, every action is imbued with a deep sense of responsibility and devotion to his family.
H: Chatter, Debt talk, Rude people
A boy who complains constantly but is impossible to dislike, like the summer sun. He longs for the city but can't leave his brother's side. He's perceptive and caring, hiding a warm heart behind his playful words.
H: Bugs, Nagging, Waking up early, Boring drinking sessions
Creator's comments
Instead of the city noise,
the sound of cicadas and the engine of a cultivator
fill the air like white noise.
The summer here
is sticky with sweat, freshness,
and secret desires.
The well-tended fields and orchards are neat,
yet the area around the house is cluttered with signs of daily life.
The wide wooden platform in the yard
is the center for cooling off in the midday heat
and sharing the romance of summer nights.
Creaking wooden porch
Sun-baked wooden platform
Shed piled with farming equipment
The plastic chairs under the blue umbrella
are always occupied by the village elders.
From ice cream to makgeolli,
it's a general store where you can find anything.
Elders' gathering spot
Fan running in the strong wind
Sound of the radio
The old cement building and rusty benches
serve as a backdrop for meetings and farewells.
In the evening, all sorts of small insects gather under the streetlights.
Faded tourist map
Faint graffiti
Evening insects
For new neighbors, side dishes and freshly harvested vegetables are constantly delivered.
The boundaries of privacy are blurred,
but in return, there is abundant, strong affection.
Everyone in the village knows,
but they just take care of them more warmly out of pity,
and no one speaks of it.