Pear juice and bean jelly in front of the State Council… “We go everywhere to promote our agricultural products.”

Pear juice, honey chestnuts, bean jelly, and snack chips were placed in front of the solemn cabinet meeting hall. Prime Minister Han Deok-soo and ministers from various ministries and other members of the Cabinet meeting experienced this. It was the first ever promotional event for excellent agricultural products held in front of the Cabinet Hall.

Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Jeong Hwang-geun presented drinks and snacks made by young farmers in Hadong, Gyeongsangnam-do ahead of a cabinet meeting held at the Seoul Government Complex this morning. He wore a nametag on his chest that read, ‘No. 1 Agricultural and Food Salesperson.’ The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs explained, “The purpose is to select ‘hidden excellent products’ that are not fully known to the public despite being excellent in taste, nutrition, and freshness, introduce them to State Council members, and appeal for support and interest.”

Minister Jeong said, “The Cabinet of Ministers is the country’s highest meeting body and a place where media attention is focused.” He added, “By actively promoting our agricultural products to attendees of the Cabinet meeting, we want to provide direct help to local communities that have lost vitality due to population decline.” “He said. He said, “If we want to take care of the people’s livelihood, we must first break from solemnity,” and “If I can be of any help in opening up sales channels for farmers, I would like to go anywhere in the country, not just the head of the Cabinet Office.”

The foods introduced by Minister Jeong were made by member companies of the Gyeongnam Hadong Venture Agricultural Association certified by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs as rural convergence industry operators, and included frozen fruit chips, plum juice, bean jelly, raw chestnuts, honey chestnuts, pear juice, dried persimmons, and frozen gimbap. The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs introduced that this association was established in 2008 with the participation of five young companies and expanded to 21 companies in 15 years, employing about 300 people and generating annual sales of 59 billion won. It is said that senior entrepreneurs provide mentoring to new companies entering the association and help them grow by placing orders. As the number of successful ventures increases, 1,118 people from 817 households returned to farming or rural areas in Hadong-gun last year, and by the third quarter of this year, 1,323 people from 1,086 households came to take advantage of the policy.

Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Won Hee-ryong and Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Yoo In-chon tasted the fruit chips and bean jelly and commented, “It’s not overly sweet and has a good texture, so I like it.” Vice Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Jang Mi-ran said, “I can feel the passion of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs to promote excellent agricultural products,” and added, “I will also actively participate in promoting the excellence of our agricultural products.”

Prime Minister Han, who tasted pear juice, said to Minister Jeong, “The President calls me ‘Korea’s No. 1 salesperson,’ and today is the day the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs debuts as ‘No. 1 Agricultural and Food Salesperson.’” To the entrepreneurs who created the products, he said, “It is an honor to meet advanced venture entrepreneurs who have returned to Hadong to farm and grow agricultural ventures,” and added, “Starting with our State Council members, we will do our best to build ‘people’s livelihood infrastructure’ for future generations.” He said.