Choi Byungjun, Gyeongbuk Provincial Council Member, Proposes Ordinance to Promote Consumption of Delicious Gyeongbuk Rice

On the 21st, it was announced that the 'Gyeongsangbuk-do Ordinance on Supporting Rice Production and Consumption Promotion', proposed by Choi Byungjun, a member of the Gyeongbuk Provincial Council (People Power Party, Gyeongju), passed the 353rd temporary session.

This ordinance was established to support the foundation for the stable production of high-quality Gyeongbuk rice, to establish a distribution system, and to promote consumption activities.

Byungjun Choi, Gyeongbuk Provincial Assembly Member

The main contents include support for infrastructure and pest control in the production sector, as well as support for logistics costs to vitalize distribution. For consumption promotion, it stipulates activities such as publicity, sales promotion, and export support.

Meanwhile, issues such as a sharp drop in rice prices due to oversupply and failure in supply-demand control have continued, and the government has implemented the 'Paddy Field Area Adjustment System' from this year, further increasing farmers' anxiety. On the other hand, in Japan, which has also struggled with chronic rice oversupply like Korea, rice prices soared by up to 70% compared to the previous year, and the issue remains unresolved.

Choi Byungjun, who proposed the ordinance, stated, "While the government continues to ease farmland regulations, even though we currently have a surplus of rice, we never know when a situation like Japan's might suddenly occur," and emphasized, "If we ignore the issue of establishing a stable production base for high-quality Gyeongbuk rice, we cannot promote rice consumption," explaining the purpose of the ordinance.