Former Agriculture Minister Dongpil Lee's 'Dream of Returning Home'... Bearing Fruit in Gyeongbuk's 'Apple Valley'

After inheriting the ministerial position in 2016, returned to hometown Uiseong
Governor Lee Cheol-woo's 'Samgochoryeo' leads to policy advisory role
Linking Gyeongbuk apple production area with 63% of national output
Promoting production, proces

At the '2020 1st Rural Revitalization Policy Forum' held by Gyeongbuk Province on June 12, former Minister of Agriculture Lee Dong-pil and others are taking a commemorative photo.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Dongwook Park] Gyeongsangbuk-do has decided to create a convergence industry zone called 'Apple Valley' by linking major apple production areas within the province and has begun full-scale consideration.

According to Gyeongbuk Province on the 16th, the concept of 'Apple Valley' is a development plan for a convergence industry zone that connects apple production bases scattered across various cities and counties, establishes advanced production facilities, and operates programs such as harvesting, processing, experience, and festivals. The areas around Andong City, Uiseong County, and Cheongsong County, which account for a high proportion of apple production in the province, are considered the primary candidates.

Gyeongbuk apples are a representative fruit, accounting for 63% of the national production volume, but farmers have faced difficulties due to climate change, labor shortages, and a fragmented production and sales distribution structure centered on individual farms.

Former Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Livestock Dongpil Lee.

The person who proposed the 'Apple Valley' idea to solve these problems and revitalize the northern Gyeongbuk economy is former Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Dongpil Lee.

After retiring in 2016, former Minister Lee returned to his hometown, Uiseong in Gyeongbuk, to farm. Last year, he accepted Governor Cheolwoo Lee's persistent invitation and is now serving his second public service career as a 'Rural Revitalization Policy Advisor' at the Gyeongbuk Provincial Government.

At the '2020 1st Rural Revitalization Policy Forum' held by Gyeongbuk Province on the 12th, Advisor Dongpil Lee, along with fruit industry officials from the province and cities/counties, local agricultural cooperative representatives, and leading sixth-industry farmers, engaged in in-depth discussions on the strategies and challenges of establishing Apple Valley.

Advisor Dongpil Lee emphasized at the forum, "Currently, Gyeongbuk's apple agriculture requires alternatives not only from a socio-economic perspective but also from a climate and environmental standpoint. Through Apple Valley, we will continuously seek ways to revitalize Gyeongbuk's rural areas by effectively linking the dispersed apple industry among various stakeholders."

Kim Minseok, head of the Future Strategy Planning Group of Gyeongbuk Province, stated, "Apple Valley is a project envisioned as a new growth model for the northern Gyeongbuk region that links production, experience, consumption, and tourism centered on Gyeongbuk apples, inspired by the competitiveness of world-renowned wine production areas such as Bordeaux and California."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.