On September 21 (Monday), Gyeongsangbuk-do Governor Lee Cheol-woo visited Mungyeong Miso Co., Ltd. (CEO Kim Kyeong-ran), an agricultural corporation located in Mungyeong-si, as part of his Chuseok livelihood tour. He inspected the facilities and examined successful cases of mutual growth where local farms, residents, and enterprises thrive together. 

Gyeongsangbuk-do plans to strategically foster the food industry linked with regional agricultural products to enhance their added value. The province aims to build a K-Food industrial ecosystem where corporate growth leads to increased farm household income, the creation of local jobs, and the expansion of domestic and international sales channels. 

Mungyeong Miso Co., Ltd. produces various processed foods such as Omija (magnolia berry) extract syrup, beverages, and seasoned laver utilizing Mungyeong's representative specialty, Omija. By establishing direct contracts with 50 local farming households and purchasing approximately 100 tons of Omija, the company secures stable raw materials while farmers can focus entirely on production without worrying about market outlets. 

The company actively practices mutual growth between agriculture and business by directly visiting farms to purchase and transport Omija, even covering the entire transportation cost.

All 16 employees, including vulnerable groups such as senior citizens and marriage immigrants, are local residents. This demonstrates how the growth of a food enterprise utilizing regional agricultural products directly translates into local job creation. 

The manufactured products are supplied to approximately 80 domestic franchises and private cafes, including Starbucks, expanding the consumption outlets of regional food nationwide. Last year, the company exported approximately $300,000 to 7 countries including the United States and Singapore, elevating the added value of regional specialties and contributing to the global expansion of K-Food.

Moving forward, Gyeongsangbuk-do plans to strengthen ties between farming households and food enterprises, backing them with stable raw material procurement, enhanced processing capabilities, expanded distribution channels, and exports so that local agricultural products can grow into competitive food items.

After touring the site and holding a meeting with related officials, Governor Lee Cheol-woo emphasized, "Agriculture and enterprises can grow together when locally produced agricultural products meet the technology of food companies to create new values and advance into the global market." He promised generous administrative support to ensure that Gyeongsangbuk-do's excellent food products reach the dining tables of people worldwide and that the food industry grows into a next-generation flagship sector driving the regional economy.

Supplemental Insights: Expanding Global Horizons for Mungyeong Omija

Building upon its robust local foundation, Mungyeong's Omija industry has continually expanded its international footprint. Recent initiatives have pushed Mungyeong Omija products—ranging from traditional extracts to innovative health beverages and seasoned laver—into diverse global markets across the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and Europe. Through strategic provincial backing and continuous export agreements, local enterprises like Mungyeong Miso continue to anchor Gyeongsangbuk-do's vision of turning regional agricultural excellence into a powerhouse for the global K-Food movement.

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