Jeonnam Yeonggwang Jinaedeul Agricultural Cooperative Selected as 'Moduae Village Enterprise' by Ministry of the Interior and Safety

Following Last Year’s Honor for Yeosu Songsi Village, Consecutive Recognition in Jeonnam for Two Years

[Muan=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] Jeonnam Province's Yeonggwang Jinaedeul Agricultural Cooperative Corporation was selected as the Ministry of the Interior and Safety's 2021 ‘Moduae (愛) Village Enterprise,’ producing a flagship village enterprise representing the nation for two consecutive years.

According to the province on the 27th, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety selected five locations nationwide as ‘Moduae Village Enterprises’ this year.

Jeonnam earned the honor again this year with Jinaedeul Agricultural Cooperative Corporation being selected, following last year's selection of Yeosu Songsi Village.

With this selection, Jinaedeul will receive 100 million KRW in project development funds to strengthen competitiveness through promotion, marketing, and securing sales channels.

Jinaedeul was designated as a Jeonnam-type preliminary village enterprise in September 2013, with nine village residents investing.

Since then, it was newly designated as a Ministry of the Interior and Safety-type village enterprise in 2014, re-designated in 2015, underwent advancement in 2019, and won the grand prize at last year's National Excellent Village Enterprise Competition.

The number of participating residents has now increased to 21. Located in the Barley Industry Special Zone, it has steadily grown by achieving annual sales of 620 million KRW last year through contracted barley cultivation and purchase, along with primary and secondary product development.

It has also received favorable evaluations by promoting win-win projects with local residents, including purchasing agricultural products from about 40 elderly farming households.

The Ministry of the Interior and Safety’s Moduae Village Enterprise selection has been promoted since 2020 to designate flagship village enterprises nationwide and support them.

The target is enterprises designated as village enterprises for more than two years that demonstrate strong community spirit and realize village enterprise values such as regional contribution activities.

Jeonnam Province supported the discovery and consulting of qualified enterprises with village enterprise identity and growth foundation from last month for the Moduae Village Enterprise contest, resulting in the consecutive selection of Jinaedeul as a Moduae Village Enterprise for two years.

Currently, Jeonnam operates a total of 286 village enterprises, including 89 Jeonnam-type preliminary village enterprises and 197 Ministry of the Interior and Safety-type village enterprises.

Jang Jeonghee, head of the Social Economy Division of Jeonnam Province, said, “We will actively support village enterprises rooted in the region to grow systematically,” and added, “We will continue to discover flagship village enterprises like Jinaedeul and widely spread excellent cases nationwide.”