Uljin County Wins Korea National Brand Award for 9 Consecutive Years

Uljin Daege Wins Grand Prize in the Snow Crab Category
at the Korea National Brand Awards for Nine Consecutive Years

Uljin County in North Gyeongsang Province announced that "Uljin Daege" (Uljin Snow Crab) received the Grand Prize in the Snow Crab category for agricultural, marine, and livestock product brands for the ninth consecutive year at the 2025 New York Festivals Korea National Brand Awards ceremony held at Lotte Hotel Seoul on April 2.

‘Uljin Snow Crab’, winner of the National Brand Award for nine consecutive years. Provided by Uljin County

The Korea National Brand Awards, one of the world's top three international advertising festivals, is hosted by the New York Festivals. It is the largest brand awards ceremony in Korea, where consumers directly evaluate brand awareness, representativeness, satisfaction, loyalty, and global competitiveness, and the National Brand Competitiveness Index (NCI) is objectively calculated.

The Uljin Daege, which received the Grand Prize this year, is highly loved by consumers for its outstanding quality and unique taste. This achievement is the result of the continuous efforts and dedication of Uljin County and local fishermen.

Uljin is Korea's premier snow crab production area, and Uljin Daege is native to the natural sea area of Wangdolcho, known as the "Underwater Geumgangsan," where cold and warm currents intersect. This region boasts an optimal marine environment based on abundant food sources, resulting in a deep sweetness and rich aroma unmatched by snow crabs from other regions.

The establishment of Uljin Daege as a premium brand is largely attributed to the consistent efforts of local fishermen. Currently, about 70 snow crab trap fishing vessels operate in Uljin County, striving to create a sustainable fishing environment. To protect snow crab resources and ensure continuous production, they have voluntarily adopted the Coastal Fisheries Snow Crab TAC (Total Allowable Catch) system, limiting the daily auction volume to 600 crabs per vessel and prohibiting snow crab fishing from June to October, thereby establishing a systematic management system.

In addition, to protect the marine ecosystem during snow crab fishing and minimize environmental impact, biodegradable fishing gear is actively introduced to realize sustainable fisheries. Even after the fishing season ends, efforts continue with the collection of discarded fishing nets to restore habitats and protect marine resources.

Furthermore, Uljin County plans to make every effort to promote the sustainable development of the fisheries industry and revitalize the local economy by pursuing a major transformation in fisheries, including improvements to the distribution system. This award once again proves that Uljin Daege has established itself as a premium brand representing Korea, beyond being just a local specialty.

County Governor Son Byeongbok said, "It is very meaningful that we have received the National Brand Grand Prize for nine consecutive years as a result of the efforts of our fishermen," adding, "We will continue to provide generous support so that fishermen can take pride and maintain their reputation."