'Hampyeong Hosts "Gwangju-Jeonnam Forest Cooperative Unity Festival"'

Commitment to Leading Valuable Forests
Governor Kim, "Wisdom for Building the Next 100 Years of Forestry"

On the 16th, participants including Kim Young-rok, Governor of Jeonnam, are taking a commemorative photo at the '2024 Gwangju-Jeonnam Forestry Cooperative Executives and Staff Unity Event' held at Hampyeong Culture and Sports Center. Photo by Jeonnam Province

The ‘Gwangju-Jeonnam Forest Cooperative Executives and Employees Unity Rally’ was successfully held on the 16th at the Hampyeong Culture and Sports Center. Hosted by the Gwangju-Jeonnam Regional Headquarters of the Korea Forest Cooperative Federation, this event had been held consecutively nine times from 2007 to 2017 but was suspended due to COVID-19 and has now resumed.

The event was attended by about 400 people, including Kim Young-rok, Governor of Jeonnam Province; Lee Sang-ik, Mayor of Hampyeong County; Lee Gae-ho, Member of the National Assembly; Han Min, Head of the Gwangju-Jeonnam Regional Headquarters of the Korea Forest Cooperative Federation; heads of 22 city and county forest cooperatives; the President of the Jeonnam Branch of the Korea Forestry Successors Association; and the President of the Gwangju-Jeonnam Branch of the Korea Forest Managers Association.

Governor Kim Young-rok evaluated, “Forests are a representative carbon sink and the foundation of natural ecosystems. The public value of forests, including forest landscapes and recreation, is also high (259 trillion won, benefiting 4.99 million won per citizen annually).” He expressed gratitude and encouragement for the dedication and passion of the forest cooperative executives and employees who protect forest sites. He further urged, “Please unite your strength and wisdom to cultivate forests more beautifully and valuably, laying the foundation for the next 100 years of forestry in Jeonnam.”

There are 22 forest cooperatives in the Gwangju-Jeonnam region, engaged in tasks such as private forest management guidance, forest resource development, distribution of forest products, and overseas forest resource development.

Since October, they have contributed to the local community through social contribution activities such as a business agreement for nurturing local talent related to children’s forest experience education, a business agreement and campaign promotion in September to revitalize rice consumption, the launch of a ‘Talent Donation Volunteer Group’ in March, as well as environmental cleanup and wildfire prevention campaigns.