Gyeongnam Nonghyup 'Happy Journey Together of City and Countryside'

Sangji Architecture and Donong Sangsaeng National Movement Headquarters Assist Farming in Uiryeong Suam Village

Gyeongnam Nonghyup announced on the 17th that it conducted rural volunteer activities with more than 140 executives and employees from the Department of Urban-Rural Coexistence National Movement Headquarters, Sangji Engineering Architecture Office, and Nonghyup Uiryeong County Branch.

The participants, who visited Suam Village in Uiryeong County, Gyeongnam, which has a sisterhood relationship with Sangji Architecture, were organized into 12 teams to assist elderly farmers with labor shortages by harvesting soybeans, rice, and persimmons, removing chili pepper stalks, and weeding.

They also repaired murals at the village hall, maintained the river, and purchased agricultural products and traditional fermented sauces directly produced by the villagers on-site.

Gyeongnam Nonghyup, Sangji Architecture, and the National Movement Headquarters for Urban-Rural Win-Win Cooperation are taking a commemorative photo for rural labor support in Suam Village, Uiryeong. [Image provided by Gyeongnam Nonghyup]

The relationship between Sangji Architecture and Suam Village, which began in 2010 through Gyeongnam Nonghyup's mediation establishing a one-company-one-village sisterhood, has now reached its 14th year.

During this time, various exchanges such as helping with farm work during the farming season, direct transactions of agricultural products, rural experience programs for executives' families, and welfare support for villagers have been regularly conducted. As a result, executives and villagers have developed a close bond, considering Suam Village as another hometown to cherish and nurture.

Sangji Architecture has played a leading role as a model for urban-rural exchange. Accordingly, in 2015, it was certified as a rural social contribution company by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and the National Movement Headquarters for Rural Love (currently the Department of Urban-Rural Coexistence National Movement Headquarters). In 2016, it received an industrial medal from the government in the urban-rural exchange category.

Heo Dong-yoon, CEO of Sangji Architecture, said, “I feel rewarded to have spent time harmonizing with the residents of Suam Village in the beautiful and abundant autumn fields,” adding, “We will grow into a responsible company that preserves the diverse values of rural areas and faithfully fulfills the roles required by society.”

Shin Hae-geun, head of Nonghyup Uiryeong County Branch, expressed gratitude to Sangji Architecture for consistently practicing love for our agriculture and rural areas, and said, “As the full-scale harvest season for persimmons and apples begins, I urge various companies and urban residents to actively participate in urban-rural exchange activities such as helping with rural labor shortages and purchasing agricultural products to support farmers struggling with labor shortages.”

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