Moon Geumju Proposes Bills to Establish Korea Gim Industry Promotion and Distribution Corporation
and Revitalize Local Love Gift Certificates
Moon Geumju, member of the Democratic Party of Korea.
Moon Geumju, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea (representing Goheung, Boseong, Jangheung, and Gangjin in South Jeolla Province), announced on the 15th that he has proposed two legislative amendments: the “Amendment to the Act on the Promotion and Support of the Gim Industry” to establish the (tentatively named) Korea Gim Industry Promotion and Distribution Corporation, and the “Amendment to the Act on the Promotion of the Use of Local Love Gift Certificates” to revitalize the use of local love gift certificates.
Gim is the top export item among Korea’s agricultural and marine products and is so prominent that it has earned the nickname “black semiconductor.” According to the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, Korea’s gim exports surpassed 1 trillion won for two consecutive years in 2023 and 2024, gaining global recognition.
However, most domestic gim producers remain small-scale and under-resourced, leading to ongoing concerns that there are limits to improving quality and enhancing competitiveness.
To address these issues, Moon has repeatedly emphasized the need for the government to actively support the gim industry by establishing a corporation-level institution, highlighting the necessity of the Korea Gim Industry Promotion and Distribution Corporation during National Assembly Agriculture, Food, Rural Affairs, Oceans and Fisheries Committee meetings.
The proposed amendment mandates the establishment of the Korea Gim Industry Promotion and Distribution Corporation, which would be responsible for formulating policies to foster and support the gim industry, improving the quality of gim and processed gim products, researching and developing new products, supporting the development of production technologies and quality management, promoting consumption and expanding exports, and training specialized personnel for the gim industry.
In addition, the “Amendment to the Act on the Promotion of the Use of Local Love Gift Certificates,” also proposed by Moon, is aimed at revitalizing local love gift certificates, a policy that President Lee Jaemyung emphasized on social media during the 21st presidential election.
Under current law, only businesses with annual sales of 3 billion won or less can become affiliated merchants for local love gift certificates. As a result, residents in eup and myeon areas, where there are fewer affiliated merchants than in cities, have faced significant inconvenience when using these certificates.
To address this, Moon has proposed an amendment that exempts businesses in eup and myeon areas from the annual sales limit of 3 billion won for becoming affiliated merchants. If the amendment passes, local love gift certificates will be usable at outlets such as Hanaro Mart in eup and myeon areas, which are frequently used by farmers, and are expected to significantly contribute to revitalizing the local economy.
Moon stated, “National development policies have long been designed with a focus on the Seoul metropolitan area and cities, leaving rural and fishing communities marginalized,” and emphasized, “From now on, together with the people’s government, we will create vibrant rural communities by promoting the gim industry and revitalizing the use of local love gift certificates.”
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