Goheung-gun Achieves Annual Income of 100 Million Won Through Land-Based Shrimp Farming by Returning Fishermen

Published 29 Apr.2022 15:09(KST)

Stable Settlement of Many Returning Fishermen Through Skill Transfer Acquired After Trial and Error

Goheung-gun Achieves Annual Income of 100 Million Won Through Land-Based Shrimp Farming by Returning Fishermen

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Shim Jeong-woo] Goheung-gun, Jeollanam-do announced that to overcome population decline, it established the Population Policy Division for the first time nationwide during the 7th local government term and is making efforts to help returning farmers and fishermen settle stably.

With the efforts and support of Goheung-gun, returning fishermen who have successfully settled stably are passing on the skills and know-how they acquired through trial and error to other returning fishermen, helping them achieve an annual income of over 100 million KRW, becoming a model for the local community.

Lee Sang-chun, CEO of Goheung Susan located in Dodeok-myeon, Goheung-gun, invested 6 billion KRW in a 50,000㎡ land-based facility greenhouse, installed dozens of shrimp land-based aquaculture tanks, and introduced biofloc aquaculture technology, shipping fresh farmed shrimp daily to the Seoul metropolitan area through Coupang, Homeplus, Lotte Mart, and others.

Although there were many difficulties, including high initial costs to establish such a large-scale facility, Lee Sang-chun, with shrimp aquaculture technology gained through years of experience, set up a large-scale shrimp land-based aquaculture facility together with 12 returning fisherman households and 11 young investors dreaming of high income, totaling 23 people. Using returning fisherman funds and Goheung Susan’s own capital, they currently ship 20 tons of shrimp nationwide every month.

Furthermore, by 2024, when the entire facility is completed, they plan to complete a 6th industry combining annual distribution of 1,500 tons of shrimp, primary and secondary processed foods, and experiential tourism, aiming for annual sales of 20 billion KRW.

Returning fishermen who received help from CEO Lee Sang-chun currently generate nearly 100 million KRW in annual income, maintaining a stable life. Through word of mouth, inquiries and visits from people nationwide hoping to return to fishing continue daily, and the returning fisherman population in Goheung-gun is expected to increase.

CEO Lee Sang-chun said, “Although many have returned to fishing with government or local government support, I saw the difficulties caused by many trial and errors and started this with the thought that my professional skills and experience might help them even a little. That is how it has come to this point.”

He also plans to teach aquaculture technology to 100 young people hoping to return to fishing from the Seoul metropolitan area and other regions, and announced plans to form a cooperative centered on local fishermen in Goheung and expand aquaculture facilities further to help local residents achieve stable high income.

A county official said, “We hope that CEO Lee Sang-chun’s generous transfer of technology will greatly help not only the development of the local aquaculture industry but also young people hoping to return to fishing. If additional investments such as primary and secondary processing industries and comprehensive distribution logistics centers are made in the future, more young people will have opportunities to settle in this area, which will greatly contribute to the development of the local aquaculture industry, the influx of population to rural fishing villages, and the local economy.”