Naju Mayor Yoon Byung-tae's On-the-Ground Sales Campaign for Naju's Top Agricultural Specialties in the Seoul Metropolitan Area

Proposal for Business Exchange Agreement on Agricultural Product Distribution during Meeting with Seocho-gu Mayor in Seoul on the 21st

Visit to Nonghyup Hanaro Mart Seongnam Branch for 'Excellent Agricultural Specialty Products Promotion Event in Major Cities'

Mayor Yoon Byung-tae is participating in the promotion and sales of local agricultural specialties at the Nonghyup Hanaro Mart Seongnam branch.

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yuk-bong] Yoon Byung-tae, mayor of Naju City, Jeollanam-do, is putting effort into on-the-ground sales in the Seoul metropolitan area to secure distribution channels for local agricultural specialties such as Naju pears and Naju rice.

According to Naju City on the 23rd, Mayor Yoon visited Seocho-gu Office in Seoul on the 21st for mutual exchanges including agricultural product distribution, and then attended the "Excellent Agricultural Specialties Promotion and Sales Event in Major Cities" held at Nonghyup Hanaro Mart Seongnam branch in Gyeonggi Province.

Meeting with Jeon Seong-su, head of Seocho-gu Office in Seoul, Mayor Yoon introduced Naju’s history as the center of Mahan and Jeolla Province, the urban vision following the establishment of the Gwangju-Jeonnam joint innovation city and the Korea Energy Engineering University, and the excellence of traditional agriculture, proposing mutual cooperation between the two cities.

Through the conversation, Mayor Yoon said, "If Seocho-gu residents experience Naju, where history, culture, energy industry, and agriculture are alive, they will surely come to love Naju," and proposed "a business agreement for active exchanges including work cooperation and agricultural product distribution for mutual prosperity between the two cities."

In response, the head of Seocho-gu Office said, "Seocho-gu holds the basic principle that cities and rural areas must coexist and prosper together, operating direct agricultural product markets with sister and friendly cities," and "We will actively consider a business agreement for mutual exchange with Naju, the center of Jeolla Province," responding to Mayor Yoon’s proposal.

After the meeting, Mayor Yoon moved to Nonghyup Hanaro Mart Seongnam branch, the largest agricultural product distributor in the Gyeonggi area, to participate in the promotional sales event to boost consumption of Naju rice and Naju pears.

Along with Mayor Yoon, about 100 people including Lee Sang-man, chairman of the city council, Kwon Yong-dae, head of the Nonghyup Central Association Naju branch, cooperative heads from Donggang, Nampyeong, Dasi, and Mahan Nonghyup, Lee Ki-seok, president of the Jaekyung Naju Hometown Association, Noh Seong-bong, president of the Jaekyung Seongnam Hometown Association, and Choi Jin-won, CEO of Hyunwoo Farm, encouraged the consumption of Naju agricultural specialties.

Also, Seongnam City officials including Park Eun-jung, vice-chair of Seongnam City Council, and Choi Jong-seong, chair of the Operations Committee, showed interest and support.

The city operated differentiated promotional events targeting consumers visiting the venue, such as free distribution of newly harvested rice (1kg) and tasting of Naju pears and Naju pear juice, receiving great attention and positive responses.

They also exhibited and promoted the taste and benefits of high-quality Naju rice, including "Wanggeoni Tamnaen Rice," which opened the export market to the U.S. this year, and eco-friendly Naju pears, highlighting the excellence of Naju’s agricultural specialties.

Mayor Yoon Byung-tae of Naju said, "Please enjoy the high-quality Naju rice grown on the fertile Naju Plain with abundant water from the Yeongsan River, and the high-sugar-content eco-friendly Naju pears, as well as many other excellent agricultural specialties from Naju. We also hope you visit Naju, a city with 2,000 years of historical culture," adding, "We will continue to spare no effort in on-site promotional sales and securing distribution channels both domestically and internationally."

Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yuk-bong ks7664@asiae.co.kr