‘Boseong Cheongryongdawon’ CEO Choi Chang-don Selected as Jeollanam-do Organic Farming Master

Practicing Eco-Friendly Organic Natural Circulation Farming to Make Premium Tea

[Boseong=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Park Cheon-seok] Choi Chang-don (77), owner of Cheongryong Dawon who cultivates green tea organically in Boseong-gun, Jeollanam-do, was selected as the 28th Jeollanam-do ‘Organic Master’ this year.

On the 5th, the Jeollanam-do Organic Master handover ceremony was held at Cheongryong Dawon. Master Choi Chang-don of Boseong Cheongryong Dawon, who was selected as Jeollanam-do ‘Organic Master’ this time, began eco-friendly green tea cultivation (3.9 hectares) by reclaiming a mountain slope in 1996.

He received organic certification for green tea in 2004, as well as organic processed food certification and international organic certification. Notably, as a finished green tea product, five items (Sejak, Ujeon, Jungjak, Daejak, powdered green tea) passed the U.S. FDA food safety inspection for the first time in Korea. Currently, he has developed and sells 15 types of tea-related brands.

He has also won awards such as placing in the 2nd Korea Tea Competition, a silver prize at the Korean Tea Evaluation Contest, and a commendation from the Boseong County Governor from the Choui Culture Research Institute. Since 2004, he has been giving lectures on organic farming at venture agricultural universities and other institutions, passing on his specialized skills and knowledge in eco-friendly premium tea to local farmers and juniors.

Master Choi uses leguminous plants such as crown vetch, clover, and hairy vetch in agriculture to cultivate eco-friendly tea trees. This is because root nodule bacteria fix organic nitrogen (N2) from the air and supply it to leguminous plants, which increases soil fertility and naturally provides nutrients to the tea trees.

Additionally, he manages tea farming focusing on strengthening the tea trees’ natural resistance by using natural circulation agriculture (biological control + leguminous plant return) so that the tea trees themselves become stronger against pests and diseases.

Organic Master Choi Chang-don said, “I am pleased that the efforts I have devoted to producing the best tea through organic methods have borne fruit, and I will continue to do my best to research and develop advanced farming techniques.”

A Boseong-gun official said, “Choi Chang-don, designated as an organic master, is a farmer leading the development of the eco-friendly tea industry in Boseong, the green tea capital. We will strive to widely promote and support the eco-friendly organic tea farming methods that the master has inherited and developed, serving as a foundation for the expansion of eco-friendly agriculture in Boseong.”

Meanwhile, in Boseong-gun, a total of four organic masters have been designated: Jeon Yang-sun (rice), the 3rd Jeollanam-do organic master in 2011; Jo Hyo-ik (pear), the 23rd master in 2019; Ahn Myung-sun (tea), the 25th master in 2021; and this year’s 28th master, Choi Chang-don (tea).

Boseong=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Park Cheon-seok hss79@asiae.co.kr

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