Dual-Track Strategy of Food Plan and Chilgapmaru Integrated Marketing
Cheongyang County Achieves 25% Increase in Farmers' Income and Builds a National Model for Food Welfare
From Small Farms to Large-Scale Production, Cheongyang Pioneers an Inclusive Food System for All Generations
Cheongyang County in South Chungcheong Province is achieving results by making agriculture its core strategy under the leadership of Governor Kim Donggon.
By pursuing a dual-track approach with the Food Plan and the Chilgapmaru Integrated Marketing, the average income of farming households has increased by 25%, food welfare has been significantly strengthened, and Cheongyang has established itself as a successful model attracting nationwide attention.
The county found its solution to overcoming the risk of regional extinction in agriculture. Governor Kim Donggon has promoted the Food Plan and Chilgapmaru Integrated Marketing as a dual-track strategy, guided by the philosophy that "agriculture is an industry directly linked to the lives of county residents and the driving force that sustains the region."
Kim Donggon, the county governor, is promoting Cheongyang agricultural products to citizens at the Cheongyang Food Direct Market / Cheongyang County
According to the county on September 3, the Chilgapmaru Integrated Marketing is a joint effort between the Cheongyang Agricultural Cooperative Corporation and local agricultural cooperatives, strictly operating 25 quality control standards such as GAP and eco-friendly certification, as well as the application of smart farms. This has enabled stable supply to large supermarkets, corporations, and online markets.
Through this, the county has driven scale expansion centered on large farms and established the Chilgapmaru brand as "trusted Cheongyang agricultural products" among consumers nationwide.
In contrast, the Food Plan is a customized policy for small and medium-sized farms, creating a virtuous cycle system that integrates production, distribution, and consumption of food.
The county has organized 1,100 contract production farms and fostered over 550 product items, establishing a system that supplies fresh agricultural products year-round.
In particular, the County Product Quality Certification System has enhanced consumer trust, while the Standard Price Guarantee System has increased the stability of farming households, resulting in a 25% increase in the average income of farming households over the past five years.
The county has overcome financial constraints and continuously secured government-funded projects, completing the "Cheongyang County Food Complex Town."
This hub, which brings together the Comprehensive Agricultural Processing Center, Public Meal Logistics Center, Safety Analysis Center, Preprocessing Center, Wild Vegetable and Goji Berry Processing Center, and Eco-friendly Processing Center, has become a forward base for the food industry, enabling all processes from production to processing, distribution, and education.
The county's food policy is expanding into welfare and care systems. The county has piloted a healthy food care program at 10 senior centers, providing high-protein, low-sodium side dishes made from seasonal local food every week.
The scene of free meal service called 'Healthy One Meal' delivered by Cheongyang County to senior centers in the area / Cheongyang County
Moving forward, the program will be expanded to 50 locations to support balanced diets for seniors and will also provide healthy snacks to children and adolescents, developing into an inclusive food welfare system that embraces all generations.
This year, the county will increase the number of contract production farms to 1,200, expand the number of product items to 550, and conduct over 3,000 comprehensive safety inspections of agricultural products annually to further strengthen the "safe food supply system."
In addition, a new lunchbox manufacturing facility will be established within the Food Complex Town to officially launch lunchbox support for senior centers.
Through these efforts, the county has received the grand prize in the "Local Food Index Evaluation" organized by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs for three consecutive years from 2022 to 2024. Among 159 local governments nationwide, this achievement is unique.
Governor Kim Donggon emphasized, "The Food Plan is a win-win policy where both farmers and consumers can smile," adding, "We will ensure both stable income for farmers and healthy lives for county residents."
Meanwhile, Cheongyang's Food Plan is now more than just an agricultural policy; it has established itself as an innovative Cheongyang-style model for overcoming the crisis of regional extinction.
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