Why Yeongju Apples Became the "Water of Life"? Annual 20 Million Won Support for Well Digging in Remote Villages Worldwide

Yeongju City, Daegu Gyeongbuk Neunggeum Nonghyup, Yeongju Nonghyup, and Punggi Nonghyup UNICEF Agreement Since 2013

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yong-woo] Did you know that ‘Yeongju Apples’ are becoming the ‘water of life’ in remote villages around the world?

Yeongju City, Gyeongbuk Province, announced on the 25th that it donated 20 million KRW through a love well-digging project to overseas remote villages suffering from drinking water shortages.

This year, Yeongju City supported UNICEF with 20 million KRW in sponsorship funds.

Since the first agreement in 2012, Yeongju City, Daegu Gyeongbuk Apple Agricultural Cooperative, Yeongju Agricultural Cooperative, Punggi Agricultural Cooperative, and the Korean Committee for UNICEF have sponsored a total of 100 million KRW by donating 20 million KRW annually for five years from 2013 to 2017.

Following this, under the second agreement, they pledged and have been sponsoring 20 million KRW annually for five years from 2018 to 2022, totaling 100 million KRW.

This project is carried out by Daegu Gyeongbuk Apple Agricultural Cooperative (Yeongju Agricultural Products Distribution Center), Yeongju Agricultural Cooperative, and Punggi Agricultural Cooperative, which use the ‘I Love Yeongju Apples’ brand. They gather the will of apple growers to donate a portion of apple sales to help neighboring countries around the globe.

Jang Wook-hyun, Mayor of Yeongju City, said, “Yeongju is the nation’s largest apple production area with the clean environment of Sobaeksan Mountain,” adding, “We use the catchphrase ‘Yeongju Apples are the Water of Life’ as an external promotional image to aid global neighbors.”

Nam Jeong-soon, Chairman of Yeongju Agricultural Cooperative, said, “By participating in social contribution projects and sharing the joy of giving, we are effectively acting as ambassadors for Yeongju Apples.”

Seo Dong-seok, Chairman of Punggi Agricultural Cooperative, said, “Yeongju has a large temperature difference between day and night, resulting in apples with high sugar content and crispness,” adding, “This is an opportunity to promote Yeongju Apples along with the relief campaign.”

UNICEF is a United Nations organization established in 1946 with the spirit of ‘non-discriminatory relief’ to help children worldwide. It carries out projects in health, nutrition, drinking water, sanitation, education, and emergency relief.

Last year, UNICEF provided relief supplies worth 4.468 billion USD to approximately 1.382 billion children worldwide and 190 countries.