Jeonnam Suncheon Forest Cooperative Wins National 1st Place in Central Cooperative Association's 'Management Award' Honor

Great Achievement of the Grand Prize by Suncheon Sanrip Cooperative 50 Years After Its Founding

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Hyung-kwon] Jo Jeong-rok, head of the Suncheon Forestry Cooperative in Jeonnam, announced on the 18th that “Suncheon Forestry Cooperative won the Management Grand Prize for the first time in its 50-year history in last year's ‘Forestry Cooperative Comprehensive Evaluation,’ which assessed the overall operations of 142 forestry cooperatives nationwide.”

Chairman Jo said, “I feel a heavy responsibility as Suncheon Forestry Cooperative has been honored to receive the No. 1 nationwide ‘Management Grand Prize’ from the Central Forestry Cooperative for the first time in 50 years since its founding.”

Regarding the background of the award, he said, “We received excellent evaluations for forestry management guidance, on-site supply of duty-free fuel, and forest resource development. In particular, we earned high praise for annually sponsoring 10 million won in scholarships for talent development in Suncheon City, as well as for taking the lead in social contribution projects such as the fire prevention campaign, donations to overcome COVID-19, and helping underprivileged neighbors.”

Additionally, Chairman Jo explained, “We became the first in Jeonnam to surpass 100 billion won in assets. Through revitalizing credit business, we achieved 135 billion won in deposits and loans and plan to pay dividends at the legal maximum rate of 3.4%. We have also secured 1.6 billion won in statutory reserves and 600 million won in business preparation funds and next year’s carryover, establishing ourselves as a sound forestry cooperative.”

Suncheon Forestry Cooperative has been providing a ‘Grave Mowing Helper’ service and offering basic grave mowing at an average price of 80,000 won per plot amid calls to refrain from visiting hometowns during the major Korean holidays of Seollal and Chuseok.

Chairman Jo added, “Every year, we encourage tree planting during Arbor Day and the spring planting season to reduce fine dust and create pleasant green spaces.”

The tree exhibition and sales center, located on a 660㎡ area adjacent to the forestry cooperative parking lot, displays and sells over 100 species of seedlings including fruit trees such as chestnut, walnut, and jujube trees; specialty trees like Hwangchil (Dendropanax morbiferus), umnamu (Kalopanax septemlobus), and lacquer trees; and ornamental trees such as azaleas, golden arborvitae, and okhyang.

Chairman Jo said, “Winning the Central Forestry Cooperative’s comprehensive evaluation Management Grand Prize is the first since our founding in 1962. I would like to once again thank Suncheon City, forestry cooperative members, foresters, and citizens who made this honor possible, and I will continue to do my best for the development of our members and Suncheon.”

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