{"id":797,"date":"2026-05-28T06:46:24","date_gmt":"2026-05-28T06:46:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rock-crusher-tractor.com\/?p=797"},"modified":"2026-05-28T06:46:24","modified_gmt":"2026-05-28T06:46:24","slug":"ep-panther-potato-planter-korea-adjustable-row-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rock-crusher-tractor.com\/ko\/ep-panther-potato-planter-korea-adjustable-row-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"EP-PANTHER \uac10\uc790 \ud30c\uc885\uae30 - 2~4\uc5f4 \uc870\uc808 \uac00\ub2a5\ud55c \ud55c\uad6d\uc2dd \uace0\uc0b0 \uc7ac\ubc30 \uc2dc\uc2a4\ud15c \uc644\ubcbd \uac00\uc774\ub4dc"},"content":{"rendered":"
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EP-PANTHER \uac10\uc790 \ud30c\uc885\uae30 - 2~4\uc5f4 \uc870\uc808 \uac00\ub2a5\ud55c \ud55c\uad6d\uc2dd \uace0\uc0b0 \uc7ac\ubc30 \uc2dc\uc2a4\ud15c \uc644\ubcbd \uac00\uc774\ub4dc<\/h1>\n

The EP-PANTHER’s row-count adjustability from 2 to 4 rows within a single machine is a capability that no other Watanabe potato planter offers. On Korean highland terrace farms where field widths vary block by block, this flexibility changes the system economics entirely.<\/p>\n

EP-PANTHER System Enquiry<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

The EP-PANTHER is the adjustable-row version of the Watanabe potato planting range \u2014 a single machine that can be configured for 2-row, 3-row, or 4-row simultaneous planting. This adjustability is its primary commercial differentiator from the EP-PAI-2100 (2-row, fixed) and from the larger-scale EP-PAI-480-AR harvesting system. For Korean highland potato farms, where the terraced field structure means that a single farm may include narrow 2-row-width terraces alongside wider 4-row-capable blocks, the EP-PANTHER’s ability to change row count without changing machines addresses a practical limitation that fixed-row planters cannot.<\/p>\n

This guide covers the EP-PANTHER’s confirmed specifications, how the row-count adjustment mechanism works in practice, the Korean farm profiles for which the EP-PANTHER is the correct system choice over the EP-PAI-2100, the system alignment requirements for each row-count configuration with furrower and harvester, and the stone clearing interactions that determine whether the PANTHER’s flexibility delivers its intended productivity on Korean highland granite soils. This is a companion to the EP-PAI-2100 vs EP-PANTHER comparison article \u2014 where that article focuses on the selection decision, this guide focuses on the EP-PANTHER as a standalone operational system.<\/p>\n

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EP-PANTHER Confirmed Specifications<\/h2>\n

\"Korean<\/p>\n

\ubaa8\ub4e0 \uc0ac\uc591\uc740 \uc640\ud0c0\ub098\ubca0 \uacf5\uc2dd \uc81c\ud488 \ube0c\ub85c\uc154\uc5d0 \ub098\uc640 \uc788\uc2b5\ub2c8\ub2e4.<\/p>\n

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2~4\uc138<\/div>\n
Adjustable rows<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\uce74\ud14c\uace0\ub9ac 2<\/div>\n
\ud788\uce58 \uce74\ud14c\uace0\ub9ac<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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75\u2013100 HP<\/span><\/div>\n
Tractor power<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Adjustable<\/div>\n
Row spacing<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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The Row Count Adjustment Mechanism \u2014 How the PANTHER Changes From 2 to 4 Rows<\/h2>\n

The EP-PANTHER’s row-count adjustability is achieved through a modular planting unit design \u2014 each row’s planting mechanism (seed hopper section, cup-chain delivery, planting shoe) is a discrete module that can be installed or removed from the machine frame. The adjustment procedure from 2-row to 4-row configuration:<\/p>\n

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Adding row units<\/div>\n

Additional planting units are attached to the machine’s central frame at the designated mounting positions. Each unit connects to the main seed delivery drive chain (which runs the full width of the machine) and the seed hopper above it. The additional unit’s row position is set by the mounting position \u2014 the frame has mounting points at 70, 75, and 80 cm intervals to match the standard Korean highland row spacings.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Drive chain extension<\/div>\n

When adding row units beyond the base 2-row configuration, the seed delivery drive chain must be extended to include the additional units’ drive sprockets. Korea Watanabe supplies row-count conversion kits for the EP-PANTHER that include the correct chain extension, drive sprockets, and mounting hardware for each additional row position. Confirm the conversion kit is included in the initial PANTHER purchase if 3-row or 4-row configurations are planned.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Time required<\/div>\n

Row count change from 2 to 3 rows: approximately 30\u201345 minutes with two operators familiar with the conversion procedure. First-time conversion (unfamiliar operators): 60\u201390 minutes. After 2\u20133 practice conversions, experienced Korean highland operators typically complete the 2-to-3-row or 3-to-4-row conversion in 25\u201335 minutes \u2014 fast enough to be done between morning and afternoon sessions on fields requiring different row counts.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Post-conversion check<\/div>\n

After every row-count conversion, run a 10 m test pass and dig up 5 seed placements per row to confirm: (1) seed is at the correct depth for each row; (2) all rows are placing seed \u2014 confirm the drive chain is correctly tensioned and the new unit’s delivery mechanism is engaged. A missed row from an incomplete chain connection produces a row of missing plants that is only discovered when emergence patterns are checked 14\u201318 days later.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Which Korean Farms Suit the EP-PANTHER \u2014 The Mixed-Terrace Farm Profile<\/h2>\n

\"PSW-3200<\/p>\n

Korean highland terrace farming is characterised by variability \u2014 terrace widths range from as narrow as 3 m (accommodating only 2-row planting) on steep slope sections to 8\u201310 m on broader terrace sections where 4-row planting is productive. A Korean highland farm with mixed terrace widths faces a specific inefficiency when using fixed-row planters: either the narrow terraces are underplanted (a 3-row planter leaves significant unplanted margin on a 3.5 m terrace where only 2 rows fit without wheel contact with the planted rows) or the farmer owns two planters (a 2-row and a 4-row) to cover the full terrace width range.<\/p>\n

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Ideal EP-PANTHER farm profile<\/p>\n

Mixed-terrace highland farm with: narrow sections (3.0\u20134.5 m usable width \u2192 2\u20133 rows) and wider sections (5.0\u20137.0 m usable width \u2192 3\u20134 rows). Farm total area 5\u201320 ha. Single 75\u2013100 HP tractor. Operator willing to do the 30-minute row-count conversion between field sections rather than owning two planters. The PANTHER replaces both a 2-row and a 4-row planter in a single machine investment.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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When EP-PAI-2100 is more appropriate<\/p>\n

Farms with uniform terrace widths where a fixed 2-row configuration never needs to change. Large-scale farms (15 ha+) where planting speed is the priority and the row-count conversion time is a productivity cost. Farms that already operate a fixed-row system aligned with fixed-row furrower and harvester \u2014 changing to the PANTHER requires realigning the furrower and potentially harvester configurations as well.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Row Spacing and System Alignment in Multi-Row-Count Operations<\/h2>\n

The EP-PANTHER’s row-count flexibility introduces a system alignment challenge that fixed-row planters do not have: when the PANTHER operates in different row-count configurations on different field sections, the furrower (Step 3) and harvester (Step 7) must also be reconfigured to match. The alignment rules:<\/p>\n

\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
PANTHER configuration<\/th>\nRequired furrower (Step 3)<\/th>\nRequired hiller (Step 6)<\/th>\nRequired harvester (Step 7)<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
2-row mode<\/td>\nEP-R-380 (3-row) or EP-ADB-380 operated in 2-row mode, OR specific 2-row furrower<\/td>\nEP-ERA-2100 (2-row)<\/td>\nEP-AWB-1600 (2\uc5f4 \uc7a5\ucc29\ud615)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3-row mode<\/td>\nEP-R-380 (3-row) \u2014 exact match<\/td>\nEP-ERA-3100 (3-row)<\/td>\nEP-AWB-1600 (harvest 2-at-a-time from 3-row planting) or EP-AWB-3200 (4-row)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
4-row mode<\/td>\nEP-R-580 (5-row operated in 4-row mode) or EP-ADB-480<\/td>\nEP-ERA-5100 (5-row, cover 4 rows) or dedicated 4-row hiller<\/td>\nEP-AWB-3200 (4-row trailed) or EP-PAI-480-AR<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n
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The practical reality of multi-row-count farming:<\/p>\n

Most Korean highland farms using the EP-PANTHER in multiple row-count configurations use it in two modes: a 2-row mode for the narrowest terraces and a 3-row mode for the standard-width terraces, paired with the EP-R-380 furrower (which is a 3-row machine but whose row bodies can be selectively deployed for 2-row furrowing by blanking the central row). The 4-row PANTHER configuration is used by farms with at least some wide-terrace blocks and appropriate harvester capacity. The EP-PANTHER is most commonly used in 2\/3-row flexibility rather than the full 2\/3\/4 range.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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EP-PANTHER vs EP-PAI-2100 \u2014 The Definitive Selection Guide<\/h2>\n

The decision between the EP-PANTHER and the EP-PAI-2100 for a Korean highland farm’s potato planting system is one of the most frequently asked questions Korea Watanabe receives from farms building or upgrading their \uac10\uc790 \uae30\uacc4<\/a> system. The following framework resolves the decision for most farm configurations:<\/p>\n

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Choose EP-PANTHER if:<\/span><\/p>\n

Your farm has terrace sections of genuinely different widths that require different row counts to plant efficiently. You want one planter investment that covers the full range of your farm’s block widths. You are comfortable with the 30-minute row-count conversion between field sections. Your furrower (EP-R-380) and at least two hiller configurations are already or will be available. Your farm is 5\u201315 ha with a single 75\u2013100 HP tractor.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Choose EP-PAI-2100 if:<\/span><\/p>\n

Your farm’s terraces are consistently the same width and a fixed 2-row configuration plants them efficiently without margin waste. Your harvest system is the EP-AWB-1600 (2-row) and you want the simplest possible system alignment. Planting speed per day is the priority and you do not want the row-count conversion downtime between sections. The farm is under 10 ha and the EP-PAI-2100 provides sufficient daily coverage without the PANTHER’s additional row capability.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Neither alone fits \u2014 consider both if:<\/span><\/p>\n

The farm is large enough (15+ ha) that planting time with one machine is a scheduling bottleneck, OR you have one section of narrow terraces (where the PANTHER in 2-row mode is the only viable option) alongside a large uniform section where the EP-PAI-2100 provides faster planting. Some Korean highland farms operate both machines simultaneously on different sections \u2014 a two-tractor operation where the PANTHER handles the variable-width terraces and the EP-PAI-2100 handles the standard-width blocks.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Stone Clearing Quality and EP-PANTHER Performance \u2014 Why Fine Tilth Matters for All Row Counts<\/h2>\n

\"THOR<\/p>\n

The EP-PANTHER’s row-count flexibility does not change its sensitivity to stone content in the planting zone. Each row unit’s planting shoe must travel at consistent depth through the ridge \u2014 a stone at planting depth deflects the shoe upward exactly as it would deflect the EP-PAI-2100 shoe, placing that seed piece shallower than designed. The same zero-tolerance stone clearance requirement from the THOR 2.4 \uc554\uc11d \ubd84\uc1c4\uae30<\/a> \uadf8\ub9ac\uace0 PSW-3200 \ub85c\ud130\ubca0\uc774\ud130<\/a> that applies to the EP-PAI-2100 applies equally to the EP-PANTHER in all row-count configurations.<\/p>\n

The stone clearing consideration that is specific to the EP-PANTHER’s multi-row operation is coverage consistency across the full planting width. In 4-row mode, the PANTHER’s outer rows are operating near the outer edge of the PSW-3200 tillage track \u2014 the zone where PSW-3200 rotor coverage is least uniform (outer rotor ends produce slightly coarser tilth than the central zone). The THOR 2.4 clearance quality in the outer working edge zone of each pass is therefore important for the EP-PANTHER’s outermost rows in 4-row configuration \u2014 the outer row planting shoe encounters the soil that the PSW-3200 outer rotor has processed, and any residual stone at this edge zone deflects the outer row shoe while the inner rows remain at correct depth.<\/p>\n

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Daily Coverage and Productivity \u2014 EP-PANTHER Across Row Count Configurations<\/h2>\n

\"Korean<\/p>\n

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EP-PANTHER daily coverage by row count \u2014 Korean highland conditions, 75 cm row spacing, 5 km\/h forward speed, 75% field efficiency:<\/p>\n

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2-row mode:<\/span>Working width 1.50 m \u00d7 5 km\/h \u00d7 75% = 0.56 ha\/hr \u2192 approximately 5.0 ha\/day (9 productive hours)<\/div>\n
3-row mode:<\/span>Working width 2.25 m \u00d7 5 km\/h \u00d7 75% = 0.84 ha\/hr \u2192 approximately 7.6 ha\/day<\/div>\n
4-row mode:<\/span>Working width 3.00 m \u00d7 5 km\/h \u00d7 75% = 1.13 ha\/hr \u2192 approximately 10.1 ha\/day<\/div>\n
Mixed farm day (example):<\/span>3 ha of 2-row narrow terraces in morning (3-hr in 2-row mode) + 5 ha of wider terraces in afternoon after 30-min conversion to 3-row mode = 8 ha planted in one day with a single tractor and single planter. Without the PANTHER, this would require two machines or two days.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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EP-PANTHER Seed Delivery Mechanism \u2014 Cup-Chain System and Korean Seed Compatibility<\/h2>\n

The EP-PANTHER uses the same cup-chain delivery mechanism as the EP-PAI-2100 \u2014 a continuous chain of cups that pick up individual seed pieces from the hopper and carry them through the delivery tube to the planting shoe, where they are placed in the furrow at the designed spacing. The cup-chain mechanism’s compatibility with Korean certified seed sizes applies identically to the PANTHER and the PAI-2100:<\/p>\n

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Compatible seed sizes:<\/span><\/p>\n

30\u201390 g whole or cut seed pieces within the 30\u201390 g range \u2014 the standard Korean certified seed size classes S through M and cut L\/XL grade. Seed pieces outside this range (below 25 g or above 100 g) risk double-picking (two pieces in one cup) or missed picks that create planting gaps.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Cup size and chit compatibility:<\/span><\/p>\n

The cup-chain system handles lightly chitted seed (0.5\u20131.5 cm chits as described in the seed preparation guide) without chit breakage if the hopper is kept at 60\u201370% fill level and the seed temperature is maintained at 10\u201314\u00b0C at loading. The same hopper-management precautions described for the EP-PAI-2100 apply to all PANTHER row-count configurations.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

In-row seed spacing:<\/span><\/p>\n

The within-row seed spacing (the distance between adjacent seed pieces in a single row) is set by the cup-chain drive ratio \u2014 the number of chain links per cup and the sprocket gear ratio. The EP-PANTHER’s in-row spacing adjustment works the same as the EP-PAI-2100’s: confirm the target in-row spacing (typically 25\u201335 cm for Korean highland potato at standard yield targets) and set the drive gear ratio accordingly. The in-row spacing setting does not change when row count is changed \u2014 it must be confirmed separately for each row-count configuration after conversion.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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\uc790\uc8fc \ubb3b\ub294 \uc9c8\ubb38<\/h2>\n
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\nCan the EP-PANTHER be used with the EP-ADB fertiliser furrower at Step 3?<\/summary>\n

Yes \u2014 the EP-PANTHER planting step (Step 4) follows the EP-ADB furrowing and fertiliser band placement (Step 3) in exactly the same way as the EP-PAI-2100 follows the EP-ADB. The EP-ADB deposits the fertiliser band at the ridge base, and the EP-PANTHER (in whatever row-count configuration matches the EP-ADB’s row count) places the seed piece above the band at the designed depth and lateral offset. The compatibility rule is row-count matching: if the EP-ADB-380 furrowers in 3-row mode, the PANTHER must also be in 3-row mode for the planting pass. If the EP-ADB is in 4-row mode (EP-ADB-480), the PANTHER must be in 4-row mode. Row count mismatches between the EP-ADB and the PANTHER produce the same alignment problems described in the furrower alignment guide \u2014 fertiliser bands without seed above them (in the extra furrower rows) and seed without fertiliser bands below them (in the PANTHER’s extra rows).<\/p>\n<\/details>\n

\nDoes the EP-PANTHER have a higher maintenance requirement than the EP-PAI-2100 because of its additional adjustable parts?<\/summary>\n

The EP-PANTHER has moderately higher pre-season maintenance requirements than the EP-PAI-2100 because it has more potential connection points that can develop play or misalignment: the modular unit attachment points, the extended drive chain, and the row-count conversion hardware. The specific additional checks for the PANTHER versus the PAI-2100: (1) inspect all modular unit mounting points for secure connection before each season; (2) check the full drive chain (which is longer in 3-row and 4-row configurations) for correct tension and no stiff links; (3) verify that any units added or removed in the previous season’s conversion are either correctly installed (if in use) or correctly stored (if removed). The additional maintenance time compared to the EP-PAI-2100 is approximately 30\u201345 minutes per season for the PANTHER-specific checks \u2014 a reasonable overhead for the flexibility the machine provides.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n

\nDoes the EP-PANTHER’s row spacing need to be reset when the row count changes?<\/summary>\n

Yes \u2014 when adding or removing row units from the EP-PANTHER, the row spacing (centre-to-centre distance between adjacent planting units) must be confirmed against the furrowed row positions before the first pass in the new configuration. The row unit mounting positions on the PANTHER frame are pre-set to the farm’s standard row spacing (70, 75, or 80 cm), so adding the correct unit at the correct mounting position should automatically produce the correct spacing. The field confirmation step (10 m test pass and spacing measurement after any row-count conversion) verifies this before the full field planting pass proceeds. In the test pass, confirm that all new units are placing seed at the same depth as the existing units \u2014 depth variation between units indicates that the new unit’s planting shoe depth is not matched to the pre-furrow ridge depth. Adjust the new unit’s depth setting before the full field pass.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n

\nIs the EP-PANTHER eligible for Korean agricultural machinery subsidies?<\/summary>\n

Yes \u2014 the EP-PANTHER qualifies under the Korean agricultural machinery purchase support program in the potato cultivation machinery category (potato planting machinery), the same category as the EP-PAI-2100. Korea Watanabe holds Korean agricultural machinery certification for the EP-PANTHER and provides full subsidy documentation at no charge. For farms purchasing the EP-PANTHER as part of a complete potato system, it can be included in the same annual subsidy application as the EP-R furrower and EP-ERA hiller \u2014 confirming the full system purchase in a single application. Contact Korea Watanabe in December\u2013January to prepare subsidy documentation for the following season’s purchase.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n

\nHow does the EP-PANTHER handle the narrower Korean highland terrace headlands where turning room is limited?<\/summary>\n

The EP-PANTHER’s headland turning radius is determined by the tractor (not by the PANTHER itself \u2014 the PANTHER is a hitch-mounted machine that folds within the tractor’s turning circle). In 2-row mode (narrowest working width, 1.50 m), the PANTHER presents no greater headland challenge than the EP-PAI-2100. In 4-row mode (widest working width, 3.00 m), the machine protrudes further from the tractor centreline on each side \u2014 requiring approximately 1.5 m additional clearance on each side for the machine body during headland turns compared to 2-row mode. On Korean highland terraces with very tight headlands (common on steeply terraced sites where the headland is the same width as the terrace), the EP-PANTHER in 4-row mode may require a 3-point reversal at each headland rather than a continuous turn \u2014 adding 30\u201360 seconds per headland compared to 2-row operations. This headland overhead is factored into the daily coverage estimates provided above.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n<\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

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EP-PANTHER Configuration \u2014 Row Count, Spacing, and Full System Compatibility<\/p>\n

Terrace width range (m) + existing furrower + existing harvester \u2192 EP-PANTHER or EP-PAI-2100 recommendation with row-count configuration plan. Korea Watanabe, Ansan-si, Gyeonggi-do.<\/p>\n

\uc9c0\uae08 \ubc14\ub85c \uc5f0\ub77d\uc8fc\uc138\uc694<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\ud3b8\uc9d1\uc790: Cxm<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

EP-PANTHER Potato Planter \u2014 Complete Guide for the 2-to-4-Row Adjustable Korean Highland Planting System The EP-PANTHER’s row-count adjustability from 2 to 4 rows within a single machine is a capability that no other Watanabe potato planter offers. On Korean highland terrace farms where field widths vary block by block, this flexibility changes the system economics […]<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[31],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-797","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-application-and-technical-guid"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/rock-crusher-tractor.com\/ko\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/797","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/rock-crusher-tractor.com\/ko\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/rock-crusher-tractor.com\/ko\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rock-crusher-tractor.com\/ko\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rock-crusher-tractor.com\/ko\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=797"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/rock-crusher-tractor.com\/ko\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/797\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":799,"href":"https:\/\/rock-crusher-tractor.com\/ko\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/797\/revisions\/799"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/rock-crusher-tractor.com\/ko\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=797"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rock-crusher-tractor.com\/ko\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=797"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rock-crusher-tractor.com\/ko\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=797"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}