Gyeongju City Supports Hanwoo Farmers Through Difficulties Together

Mayor Ju Nak-young Visits Hanwoo Farms
Listens to Farmers' Concerns Amid Falling Cattle Prices and Rising Feed Costs

Gyeongju City in Gyeongbuk Province is making efforts to overcome the difficulties faced by 'Hanwoo farmers,' who are struggling due to the recent decline in cattle prices and the rise in feed costs.

On the 20th, Gyeongju Mayor Ju Nak-young visited the Gyeongju Livestock Market located in Bulguk-dong to observe the Hanwoo trading site and listen to the difficulties of livestock farmers and related personnel.

On the 20th, Joo Nak-young, mayor of Gyeongju, visited the Gyeongju Livestock Market located in Bulguk-dong to observe the Korean beef trading site and listen to the difficulties faced by livestock farmers and related personnel.
[Photo by Gyeongju City]

The on-site visit was accompanied by Lee Dong-hyup, Chairman of the Gyeongju City Council, Ha Sang-wook, President of the Gyeongju Livestock Cooperative, and Lee Young-chul, Head of the Gyeongju Branch of the Hanwoo Association.

Mayor Ju Nak-young observed the auction process for about 30 minutes and discussed ways to enhance Hanwoo quality and develop the local livestock industry.

Opened in September 2009, the Gyeongju Livestock Market conducts auctions every Monday, trading approximately 15,000 Hanwoo annually, and has become a major trading place for local Hanwoo farmers.

At last week's auction, male calves were traded at an average price of 3.72 million KRW, and female calves at 2.56 million KRW.

This represents a price drop of more than 5% compared to the previous year, and combined with the increase in feed prices, difficulties for Hanwoo farmers are anticipated.

Meanwhile, earlier in 2023, Gyeongju City invested 250 million KRW to introduce a real-time auction platform using smartphones.

This platform improves convenience for farmers and has also been effective in preventing livestock diseases such as foot-and-mouth disease.

Mayor Ju Nak-young stated, “We will continue to expand support to promote the development and competitiveness of the local Hanwoo industry.”