Domestic Food Companies like CJ CheilJedang and Ottogi "Considering Replacing Imported Rice Used in Products with Domestic Rice"

Im Hyeong-chan, Vice President of CJ CheilJedang, appeared at the National Assembly on the 4th for the audit of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and responded to questions from lawmakers. Photo by Yoon Dong-ju doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Gong Byung-sun] Domestic food companies such as CJ CheilJedang and Ottogi have decided to consider replacing imported rice used in some products with domestically produced rice.

At the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs' audit held on the 4th at the National Assembly's Agriculture, Forestry, Livestock, Food, and Maritime Affairs Committee, Lim Hyung-chan, Vice President of CJ CheilJedang, responded to lawmakers' inquiries about rice usage by saying, "Our company uses imported rice in some cupbap products," and added, "We will consider replacing it with domestic rice."

Vice President Lim stated, "As of last year, we used 60,000 tons of domestic rice and 2,000 tons of imported rice," and explained, "Due to differences in characteristics between imported and domestic rice, we have been using imported rice, but we will strengthen our capabilities through research and development (R&D) to replace it with domestic rice."

Hwang Seong-man, CEO of Ottogi, also said, "All domestically distributed products use domestic rice, but due to cost reasons, only 1.2% of rice used in export products is imported," and added, "We will discuss with our partners to consider replacing it with domestic rice."

Park Sang-gyu, CEO of Nongshim Flour Mill, also responded, "Although we have a high dependence on imported rice, we will replace it with domestic rice even if it takes time."