Gokseong-gun Expands Production with Automated Packaging of Baeksemi Nurungji

Promotion of Automated Packaging Business for Cup Nurungji

Gokseong-gun, Jeollanam-do (Governor Lee Sang-cheol) announced that it will support the automated packaging facility for Baeksemi Nurungji.

Gokseong-gun produces and sells Seokgok Nonghyup Baeksemi Cup Nurungji, a representative organic eco-friendly rice processed product of the county.

The cup nurungji developed last year is produced by self-manufacturing the nurungji, but the cup packaging of the nurungji is outsourced to another company through OEM production.

[Photo by Gokseong-gun]

Since the packaging cost per cup nurungji is 550 won, causing packaging expenses to leak outside, Gokseong-gun will support an automated nurungji packaging facility with a project cost of 180 million won to improve this issue.

The nurungji factory, which began trial operation in December the year before last, has been producing nurungji in earnest since last year after establishing manufacturing manuals and other processes.

The organic Baeksemi cup nurungji is made so that it can be eaten immediately by just pouring hot water, utilizing the existing nurungji known for its savory aroma and taste.

Thanks to its excellent taste and easy preparation, the cup nurungji has gained popularity among consumers, with orders flooding in from places like the Nonghyup Gift Mall right after its launch.

To actively target the eco-friendly rice consumption market and processed product market, the county promoted a pilot project from 2021 to 2022 to foster a large-scale eco-friendly rice industry complex at the field unit level.

For this purpose, a 330㎡ nurungji processing factory was established on the site of the Seokgok Nonghyup Baeksemi mill, and drying facilities were additionally constructed last year.

Baeksemi from Gokseong-gun, selected as one of Jeollanam-do’s top 10 high-quality brand rices for three consecutive years, has mostly been sold as table rice, but recently, to promote rice consumption and expand processing, nurungji is being produced and its sales channels are being broadened.

Last year, 1,137 tons were sold, achieving sales of 4.8 billion won. Among them, 18 tons were consumed as nurungji.

Baeksemi production is carried out through the entire cultivation process centered on Nonghyup, including the establishment of an organic eco-friendly farming contract cultivation complex, supply of seeds and seedlings, pest control, harvesting, drying, and processing.

A county official said, “Baeksemi is gaining fame as an eco-friendly premium rice and is gaining popularity again among consumers as it is processed into nurungji. In addition to the existing Baeksemi nurungji products, we will develop various rice processed products to increase rice consumption.”

Gokseong = Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Cha Jong-seon hss79@asiae.co.kr