November 11 is 'Nongupin Day'... 160 Meritorious Persons Selected This Year

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Sejong=Reporter Kim Hyewon] The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs announced on the 10th that it will hold a commemorative ceremony on the 11th at the Nonghyup Central Association Auditorium under the slogan "Vigorously Advancing Agriculture, Rural Areas Together with the People" to celebrate the 27th Agricultural Day.

Agricultural Day on November 11 was first proposed in 1964 by rural enlightenment activist Won Hong-gi, inspired by the fact that soil (土), the foundation of agriculture and life, is composed of the characters ten (十) and one (一). It was designated as a government commemorative day in 1996. The day aims to encourage the hard work of farmers who strive to produce food during the harvest season when the year's farming is completed and to widely promote the public value of agriculture.

The ceremony is expected to be attended by about 300 people, including Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Jeong Hwang-geun, Chairman So Byeong-hoon of the Agriculture, Food, Rural Affairs, Oceans and Fisheries Committee, Committee member Choi Chunsik, heads of agricultural organizations, farmers, and consumers.

Minister Jeong will present government awards to 20 people representing 160 meritorious persons selected on Agricultural Day, including farmers and their families who have contributed to agricultural policy development and workers related to agriculture and food.

This year's highest honor on Agricultural Day, the Gold Tower Industrial Medal, was awarded to Yang Seung-ho, CEO of Haepyeong Farm. CEO Yang discovered 23 excellent domestic varieties of Cymbidium, a type of Western orchid, over 38 years and developed cultivation techniques, expanding the distribution rate of domestic varieties. As a result, he saved about 2 billion KRW in royalties and contributed to the development of the floriculture industry and regional agriculture by pioneering new export markets.

In addition, Kim Jong-woo, Chairman of the Jeju Branch of the Korea Agricultural Meister Association (Silver Tower), Ahn Kyung-gu, CEO of Joeun Seedlings (Bronze Tower), Ko Hwa-soon, CEO of Haneul Farm (Iron Tower), Ahn Doo-hyun, CEO of Yeongsil Farming Association Corporation (Iron Tower), Kim Tae-hwan, former CEO of Livestock Economy at Nonghyup Economic Holdings (Iron Tower), Kim Si-bok, CEO of Hanmi Seedlings (Stone Tower), and Lee Soon-seon, former President of the Korea Life Improvement Jeju Province Federation (Stone Tower) were honored with industrial medals.

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