Grill Master Competition Held...Nation's First 'Griller' Title Awarded and New Job Creation Laid
Pork Sharing Event and Horse Feeding Experience for Urban Residents
High Demand as Excellent Gyeonggi Livestock Products Available at Discounted Prices for Direct Grilling
Sponsored by Gyeonggi Province and hosted and organized by the NongHyup Central Association Gyeonggi Headquarters and the Gyeonggi Agricultural and Marine Products Promotion Agency, the ‘2024 Gyeonggi Province Livestock Festival’ concluded over two days on the 27th and 28th at the Imjingak Pyeonghwa Nuri Park area in Paju, with participation from local city and county livestock organizations and about 10,000 urban residents.
This year’s Livestock Festival offered visitors a variety of sights, foods, and activities, including an opening celebration concert, tastings and discounted sales of excellent Gyeonggi livestock products, and a livestock product promotional hall.
On the first day, the 27th, a grill show featuring Hanwoo and Handon Grill Masters was held, with famous chef Kang Leo and others serving as judges to evaluate the grill masters’ skills and award certification plaques. This marked the first time nationwide that the official title of ‘Griller’ was granted in Gyeonggi Province, laying the foundation for this new profession.
Additionally, a ‘Handon Sharing Event’ was held to promote a happy partnership between the local community and the livestock industry. The Korea Pork Producers Association donated Handon pork worth 40 million KRW to the Gyeonggi Social Welfare Council, providing meaningful support to neighbors facing difficulties such as urgent livelihood crises.
On the 28th, awards were given in two categories: Hanwoo quality improvement and livestock breeding.
The newly introduced ‘Hanwoo Quality Improvement’ category evaluated Hanwoo farming households’ efforts toward carbon neutrality and livestock product quality enhancement. Through the selection of outstanding livestock, six farms received honors in three categories: grand prize, excellence, and encouragement.
Following this, the awards ceremony for the ‘Livestock Breeding’ category, held non-face-to-face due to livestock disease outbreaks and quarantine measures, recognized 18 farms from 18 cities and counties competing with a total of 84 Hanwoo cattle in five categories: heifer calves, non-pregnant, and pregnant classes 1, 2, and 3. Eighteen farms received awards including grand prize, excellence, and encouragement, with the prestigious grand prize going to the farm of Park Seungbun affiliated with the Yongin Livestock Cooperative.
At the ‘Free Livestock Product Experience Zone’ set up alongside, various age groups of residents enjoyed hands-on activities such as feeding Jeju ponies, making wooden horse dolls, face painting, and spinning the Hanwoo prize wheel, adding to the fun.
In particular, the ‘Gyeonggi Excellent Livestock Product Tasting and Discount Sales Corner’ allowed visitors to directly taste G-mark certified excellent livestock products from the province and purchase them at discounted prices, receiving enthusiastic responses from attendees.
One citizen at the festival said, “Watching the grill show was very informative as I learned grilling know-how from experts, and it was great to taste the meat demonstrated. I plan to grill the meat I bought at the event at home using the techniques I learned and enjoy it with my family.”
Shin Jonggwang, Director of the Livestock Policy Division of Gyeonggi Province, stated, “Through hosting the Livestock Festival, Gyeonggi Province promotes the excellence of local livestock products to boost consumption and has prepared a grill master competition to pass on grilling know-how so consumers can enjoy the tastiest meat at their tables. We will continue to strive to link livestock products and industry with added value in the dining industry and the creation of future-oriented jobs.”
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