Cheongyang Defies Downturn: Chilgab Maru Sales Double to Rank No. 1 Nationwide

Cheongyang Cooperative Corporation Achieves Highest Growth Rate Nationwide
Records All-Time High Sales of 20.5 Billion Won Within One Year of Launch

Participants are taking a commemorative photo at the launch ceremony of the Nonghyup Cooperative Joint Business Corporation in Cheongyang County last February. / Photo by Cheongyang County

Despite the economic downturn and shrinking demand for agricultural products, Cheongyang County in South Chungcheong Province more than doubled its sales within a year through integrated marketing centered on the unified agricultural brand "Chilgab Maru," recording the highest growth rate among integrated marketing organizations nationwide.

According to Cheongyang County on January 7, the Cheongyang Nonghyup Cooperative Joint Business Corporation (Cheongyang Cooperative Corporation) recorded total sales of 19.2 billion won as of December 31 last year. This represents an increase of 9 billion won from 10.2 billion won in 2024, resulting in a growth rate of 87.7%.

Furthermore, when combining the performance of grains and processed products such as Hyangjinju and red pepper powder, total sales increased to 20.5 billion won, with the growth rate reaching 100.1%.

According to the "2025 National Integrated Marketing Business Performance" announced on January 6, the growth rate of Cheongyang Cooperative Corporation ranked first among approximately 90 cooperative corporations nationwide.

This is an exceptional achievement, especially considering that most cooperative organizations nationwide experienced either single-digit growth or stagnation due to the economic downturn and reduced consumption.

Cheongyang Cooperative Corporation was established in March last year through joint investment by local Nonghyup branches in Cheongyang. From its inception, the organization focused on expanding direct transactions with major distributors, strengthening online distribution networks, and intensively nurturing the unified brand "Chilgab Maru" as core strategies.

Additionally, the organization concentrated its efforts on standardizing quality from the production stage and securing stable supply volumes to enhance distribution reliability.

In particular, garlic emerged as a key revenue source, with sales soaring by 753% year-on-year to 4.8 billion won. Red peppers achieved sales of 4 billion won through the introduction of a dual sorting system and both online and offline promotions. Other traditionally strong products such as chestnuts (4.3 billion won), melons (3 billion won), and shiitake mushrooms (1.5 billion won) provided a stable foundation, while strategic products like blueberries (500 million won), watermelons, and pears (300 million won each) also contributed to sales growth.

Cheongyang County attributes this success to long-term efforts in expanding production infrastructure and mechanization, improving and standardizing quality, securing stable supply, and developing strategic sales channels through close communication with producer organizations.

It is rare for an organization that began full-scale operations only in April of last year to achieve the highest growth rate nationwide in less than a year since its launch.

Cheongyang Cooperative Corporation is now recognized for having proven its function and competitiveness as an integrated marketing organization through these results.

County Governor Kim Dongon stated, "The integrated marketing of Chilgab Maru, which we have been preparing since 2021, has combined with the expertise of Cheongyang Cooperative Corporation to yield tangible results. We will not be complacent with last year's achievements and will move steadily toward our 2025 sales target of 28.2 billion won and cumulative sales of 100 billion won for Chilgab Maru."