Gangjin Hydrangeas Open First Domestic Export Route to Singapore

Pioneering Air Export Routes Amid COVID-19, Turning Gangjin's Floriculture Industry Crisis into Opportunity

County Governor Lee Seung-ok and members of the Green Flower Association are loading hydrangeas to be exported to Singapore onto a vehicle. (Photo by Gangjin County)

[Gangjin＝Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yong-su] On the 14th, Jeonnam Gangjin-gun announced that on the 13th, more than 20 members of the Green Floriculture Hydrangea Cultivation Corporation and county officials gathered to hold a ceremony commemorating the first-ever export shipment of hydrangeas from Korea to Singapore.

The event was minimized and held in compliance with quarantine guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Gangjin hydrangeas account for about 32% of the domestic hydrangea production and are exported to domestic and Japanese markets. However, as the COVID-19 pandemic, which began last year, prolonged, the markets both domestically and in Japan shrank, causing damage to Gangjin hydrangea production.

In response, the Green Floriculture Agricultural Corporation, together with the Rural Development Administration, sought ways to expand the hydrangea export market, and conducted a trial export to Singapore in June. Currently, research is underway to solve distribution and storage issues.

For continuous air export of hydrangeas, reducing transportation costs and maintaining freshness during long transport times remain challenges to be addressed.

Lee Seung-ok, the county governor who attended the ceremony, said, “Last year, many flower farms in Gangjin had a difficult time as various events were reduced or canceled due to COVID-19, but we are turning the crisis into an opportunity by pioneering online direct transaction distribution markets. We will do our best to ensure that the new market development for hydrangeas can become a stepping stone for the development of Gangjin’s floriculture industry.”

The 500 hydrangea stems shipped that day will be used in luxury hotels and international event venues in Singapore.

Gangjin=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yong-su kys86120@asiae.co.kr

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