A Day When Neighborly Love 'Ssalbi' Fell All Over Sangju... Farmers' White Rice Donations for Lunar New Year Celebration

Nanuri Agricultural Cooperative Corporation in Hamchang-eup, Sangju-si, Gyeongbuk (top), Seosangju Nonghyup Hwadong Branch (middle), and Seosangju Nonghyup donated rice of love to Sangju City.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Seryeong] Instead of white snowflakes, white "rice rain" fell in Sangju City, Gyeongbuk.

Nanu-ri Agricultural Cooperative Corporation in Hamchang-eup, Sangju, Seosangju Nonghyup Hwadong Branch, and employees of Seosangju Nonghyup headed toward local administrative welfare centers carrying rice sacks without any prior arrangement.

On the 17th, Nanu-ri Agricultural Cooperative Corporation in Hamchang-eup donated 30 bags of 20kg white rice worth 1.8 million won to the Hamchang-eup welfare rice storage project, asking that it be delivered to neighbors in need.

Nanu-ri Agricultural Cooperative Corporation is an organization of farmers who directly plant and cultivate rice, beans, onions, and more. Since 2016, they have donated rice every year before Lunar New Year and Chuseok and actively participate in low-income support projects.

The hands of farmers, tanned by the sun and weathered by the wind, were rough and coarse. The touch of putting down the straw mat was careful and warm.

Kim Sang-yong, branch manager of Seosangju Nonghyup Hwadong Branch, and employees also piled up 48 bags of rice worth 1.5 million won in the yard of the Hwadong-myeon Administrative Welfare Center for the local residents.

They said they carefully selected high-quality rice and wanted to offer a tasty and hearty meal before leaving.

Employees of Seosangju Nonghyup also delivered 100 bags of rice worth 3.4 million won to the Modong-myeon Administrative Welfare Center. They said they collected rice money little by little, believing that everyone should spend the holidays abundantly and eat heartily.

On the same day, Nanu-ri Agricultural Cooperative Corporation, Seosangju Nonghyup Hwadong Branch, and Seosangju Nonghyup people made it rain rice. Their hearts toward their neighbors connected. They shared the same hope to look after and comfort the marginalized neighbors and provide help.

It was a day when white "rain" sprinkled across Sangju, including elderly living alone, single-parent families, and grandparent-grandchild households ahead of the 2022 Lunar New Year.