Jeju Citrus Pomace Seeks Recycling Path

Mid-sized Ombudsman Holds S.O.S Talk in Jeju Region

Joo-Bong Park, Small and Medium Business Ombudsman (vice minister level, center in photo), is conducting the 'S.O.S. Talk (SME Meeting)' held at Jeju Trade and Economic Promotion Agency.
[Photo by Jong-Hwa Kim]

[Jeju=Asia Economy Reporter Kim Jong-hwa] Plans are underway to recycle ‘gamgyulbak,’ the peel and byproducts generated during the tangerine juicing process. A small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) has requested that gamgyulbak, which amounts to 50,000 to 60,000 tons annually in Jeju, be recognized as a circular resource.

The SME Ombudsman announced on the 13th that it held an 'S.O.S. Talk' event (a meeting for SMEs) with the Jeju Regional Headquarters of the Small and Medium Business Corporation to hear companies’ suggestions for regulatory improvements.

S.O.S. Talk is a joint meeting held since 2015 by the SME Ombudsman and the Small and Medium Business Corporation to resolve regulatory difficulties faced by local SMEs, with 14 to 16 sessions held annually.

This event was held for SMEs in the Jeju region, attended by about 20 people including Ombudsman Park Ju-bong, Park Kyung-seok, head of the Jeju Export Support Center at the Gwangju-Jeonnam Regional Small and Medium Business Administration, Park Jung-geun, head of the Jeju Regional Headquarters of the Small and Medium Business Corporation, and five representatives of local SMEs.

At the meeting, Kim Young-hoon, CEO of Ilhae Co., Ltd., proposed a recycling-related suggestion regarding gamgyulbak. The peel and byproducts left after juicing tangerines are currently classified as plant residues under existing waste management laws and are either used as fertilizer and feed or discarded as waste. The related companies suggested that if gamgyulbak is recognized as a circular resource, it could be recycled into eco-friendly packaging materials.

CEO Kim pointed out, "Although gamgyulbak generated annually in Jeju has low toxicity and high value as a resource, it is currently not recognized as a circular resource and is limited to use as feed or disposed of as waste." He added, "Technology to make corrugated cardboard using gamgyulbak has already been secured. Please expand the permitted uses of gamgyulbak beyond feed and fertilizer to include raw materials for paper and eco-friendly packaging products."

In response, Ombudsman Park Ju-bong (vice-minister level) said, "I understand that there are currently no recycling standards for gamgyulbak. To expand the recycling scope to include raw materials for paper and eco-friendly packaging, recycling standards must first be established through verification of environmental and human health risks and product quality." He added, "We will actively consult with the Ministry of Environment, the relevant administrative agency, to this end."

There was also a proposal to expand the utilization scope of national fishing ports, which are Jeju’s natural treasures. The suggestion was to include camping grounds, which have recently gained popularity, within the scope of ‘facilities for fishing village tourism.’

Company B stated, "Areas near national fishing ports are close to the sea and have infrastructure in place, and the number of tourists camping has recently increased. However, the current Enforcement Decree of the Fishing Village and Fishing Port Act does not include camping facilities within the scope of ‘facilities for fishing village tourism.’" They added, "Due to a lack of camping sites, illegal camping occurs, raising concerns about damage to nearby fishing village residents and safety accidents."

In response, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, which received the Ombudsman’s suggestion, replied that it would accept the proposal. Since the current provisions allow the installation of ‘rest facilities for tourists such as lodging, bathing, and entertainment facilities,’ some fishing ports already have similar facilities like camping grounds. The ministry plans to reflect this suggestion in future amendments to the Enforcement Decree.

Additionally, SMEs participating in the meeting raised regulatory issues and difficulties including ▲relaxation of restrictions on food manufacturing and processing businesses for small-scale companies within factory establishment restricted areas under the Water Supply Act ▲easing requirements for pet food sales and establishing guidelines ▲loosening restrictions on the use of byproduct materials for fertilizer production.

Ombudsman Park said, "In Jeju, which leads innovation in the clean bio and green energy sectors, we will listen carefully to voices from the field and do our best to help strengthen the competitiveness of SMEs through regulatory improvements."

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