The 100-Year Future of Cheongsong Apples... Inauguration Ceremony of the 'Cheongsong Hwanggeum Apple Research Complex' Held

On the 13th, Cheongsong-gun, Gyeongbuk Province held a completion ceremony for the ‘Cheongsong Hwanggeum Apple Research Complex’ in Songseng-ri, Cheongsong-eup, Cheongsong-gun.

Completion Ceremony of Cheongsong Golden Apple Research Complex Held. Provided by Cheongsong County

The ceremony was attended by County Governor Yoon Kyung-hee, Shim Sang-hyu, Chairman of the County Council, Shin Hyo-kwang and Lim Ki-jin, members of the Provincial Assembly, members of the Cheongsong County Council, Won Min-jung, Director of the Rural Guidance Bureau at the Gyeongbuk Agricultural Technology Institute, Lee Dong-hyuk, Director of the Apple Research Center at the National Institute of Horticultural and Herbal Science, and many other officials from inside and outside the region.

The newly completed Cheongsong apple specialized research facility, the ‘Cheongsong Hwanggeum Apple Research Complex,’ was established with a total project cost of 14.6 billion KRW (7.7 billion KRW national funds, 0.5 billion KRW provincial funds, and 6.4 billion KRW county funds), covering a total area of 4.0 hectares.

Starting with the selection of the project in 2020, construction began in 2021, completing the Cheongsong Hwanggeum Apple Future Hall (2 floors above ground, total floor area 1,687㎡), Agricultural Product Quality Control Room (2 floors above ground, total floor area 720㎡), Seedling Research Lab (1 floor above ground, total floor area 400㎡), and demonstration test orchard (2.5 hectares).

This research complex is equipped with key facilities demanded by farmers, including a smart agriculture training center, joint research labs, soil testing labs, apple virus-free seedling production seedling research labs, and agricultural beneficial microorganism cultivation labs. It is responsible for △developing standard cultivation manuals for smart apple farming △researching and disseminating flat-type apple tree cultivation techniques △establishing a foundation for the distribution of virus-free apple seedlings △improving apple quality using beneficial agricultural microorganisms △ensuring the quality and safety of agricultural products.

In particular, to present a Cheongsong-type smart farm model, a demonstration test field based on multi-axis ultra-dense cultivation has been established, presenting a future vision for the industrialization of Cheongsong apples and leading innovation in Cheongsong-gun agriculture. Through this, the plan is to firmly establish competitiveness by building a self-reliant foundation for apple seedling production, specializing cultivation techniques, and securing quality safety.

Governor Yoon Kyung-hee expressed a strong commitment, saying, “Starting from Hyeonseo-myeon in 1924, Cheongsong apples have a long history of 100 years. We will lead the next 100 years of Korea’s apple industry, create an agricultural model where young people come to Cheongsong-gun, generate stable income through Cheongsong apples, and revitalize local communities.”