Hwasun County Holds "Inaugural Export Ceremony for Hangunchunlan"... Anticipates Entry into Global Market

Expanding the Domestic-Focused Orchid Industry to the Global Market

A scene of County Governor Koo Bokgyu delivering a congratulatory speech at the inaugural export ceremony of Hangunchunlan. Provided by Hwasun County

Hwasun County, South Jeolla Province, announced that it held the "Inaugural Export Ceremony for Hangunchunlan" at the Hwasun Chunlan Cultivation Greenhouse (located in Mansu-ri, Neungju-myeon) on January 18.

This commemorative ceremony was held alongside an orchid sales exhibition organized by the Hwasun Orchid Association (President Bae Yongil), adding further significance to the event. By hosting the export ceremony at the site of the nation’s most active domestic sales exhibition, the event symbolically demonstrated the expansion of Korea’s orchid industry from a domestic-focused structure to the global market.

In particular, this export marks the nation’s first legal export case of Hangunchunlan that has met all legal requirements, including quarantine, environmental, and customs regulations. It is regarded as an important policy turning point, shifting the orchid distribution structure from unofficial transactions to an industrialized and export-oriented system.

The event was attended by over 100 participants, including Hwasun County Governor Koo Bokgyu, the CEO of Hwasun Orchid Agricultural Corporation, local orchid farmers, and orchid enthusiasts from across the country. The Director of Agricultural Policy shared a progress report detailing the export promotion process and the results of administrative support to date.

To successfully export to China, Hwasun County has established a close cooperative system centered on the Hwasun Orchid Agricultural Corporation, working together with Jeollanam-do Province, the Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency, the Yeongsangang River Basin Environmental Office, and other relevant agencies.

In April 2024, Hwasun County signed an orchid industry exchange agreement with Fujian Province, China, and invited members of the Nanjing Orchid Association of Fujian Province to the Hwasun Orchid Premium Expo to promote the excellence of Hangunchunlan. Through ongoing and close consultations on local quarantine standards and distribution structures, the county has established not just a one-time export but a stable and sustainable export system.

The first export shipment consists of 500 Hangunchunlan plants, serving as a pilot export, and will be exported to a local distributor in Nanjing, Zhangzhou, Fujian Province, China. Hwasun County plans to establish itself as the key hub for Hangunchunlan distribution in China through additional sequential exports in the future.

Hwasun County evaluated this event as highly meaningful, as it confirmed the stability of the domestic orchid distribution base, verified the quality competitiveness of exportable varieties, and presented the possibility of expanding export participation among cultivation farms, thereby establishing a virtuous cycle structure for the orchid industry.

Governor Koo Bokgyu of Hwasun County stated, "This commemorative ceremony, held at the nation’s largest orchid sales exhibition, is a symbolic event announcing that Hwasun Chunlan, already recognized in the domestic market for its quality, has now entered the global market. We will continue to provide support so that orchid cultivation farms and corporations can grow together."

He added, "Based on the cooperative system with Fujian Province, China, we will establish a stable export model and continuously expand export channels to China and other Asian markets."

With this ceremony as a turning point, Hwasun County plans to foster the orchid industry, centered on Hangunchunlan, as a high value-added export industry, further systematize the industrial structure linking cultivation, distribution, and export, and strengthen the foundation for sustainable orchid industry growth and increased local farm income.