Imsil En Cheese Selected as 'Excellent Special Zone' in Specialized Development Zone Evaluation

Published 22 Dec.2021 16:01(KST)

[Imsil=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Park Nosik] Jeonbuk Imsil En Cheese has achieved great success by being selected as the ‘2021 Excellent Specialized Development Zone,’ receiving an institutional commendation and prize money.

The county announced on the 22nd that the Imsil En Cheese Dairy Special Zone won the Prime Minister’s institutional commendation and prize money of 150 million KRW at the ‘2021 Excellent Specialized Development Zone Awards Ceremony’ hosted by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, held at the Hongdae Festival Street in Seoul.

The Ministry of SMEs and Startups selected and awarded the Imsil En Cheese Dairy Special Zone, which greatly contributed to the local economy and increased farm household income among 195 regional special zones nationwide.

Due to strengthened quarantine guidelines amid the resurgence of COVID-19, offline awards were given to three local governments, including Imsil County, selected as excellent zones among the 195 regional special zones nationwide, while six encouragement zones were awarded online.

The Imsil En Cheese Dairy Special Zone activated experiential tourism centered around the Imsil Cheese Theme Park, established a network of related organizations, supported the operation of dairy processing companies, attracted 19 companies, and created 190 jobs.

In particular, it achieved sales of 32.4 billion KRW, marking a significant contribution as a growth engine for the local economy.

The Imsil Cheese & Food Research Institute also showed remarkable results in product development with 26 achievements in new product R&D, patent registrations, and trademark registrations.

Additionally, to secure sales channels for local dairy processing companies struggling with product sales due to the COVID-19 crisis, direct transaction promotional activities such as the ‘Urban-Rural Exchange Win-Win Market’ were promoted, along with non-face-to-face sales activation strategies through the launch of the official Imsil N Cheese online mall (Naver Smart Store).

It is evaluated that Imsil County’s proactive response efforts to overcome the COVID-19 crisis played a decisive role in being selected as an excellent special zone.

The county plans to use the prize money secured through this award for research and development support for related research institutions, support for farm households, and promotional activities to develop the Imsil En Cheese Dairy Special Zone.

County Governor Shim Min said, “I am pleased that Imsil En Cheese has enjoyed the honor of being selected as a national excellent special zone following its 8 consecutive years as Korea’s representative brand award winner. We will not be satisfied with the present and will strive to make Imsil En Cheese a world-class premium brand beyond Korea and ensure its continuous growth.”