Jinju City and McDonald's Korea Collaborate to Boost Local Agricultural Economy

Successful Collaboration Drives Lokonomi Craze
'Jinju Gochu Cream Cheese Burger and Muffin' Sell 500,000 in 6 Days
1 Million Sold in 14 Days, a Massive Hit

The "Jinju Chili Cream Cheese Burger" and "Jinju Chili Cream Cheese Muffin," newly launched by McDonald's Korea as part of the "Taste of Korea" series, have proven to be a hit, selling 500,000 units within six days and 1 million units within fourteen days of their release on the 11th. These products are showcasing the rich and flavorful spiciness of Jinju chili peppers.

Born out of a collaboration between Jinju City in South Gyeongsang Province and McDonald's to promote local agricultural products and revitalize the economy, the "Jinju Chili Cream Cheese Burger" is firmly establishing itself as a leading example of the "loconomy" trend.

Group commemorative photo for the launch of the 'Jinju Chili Cream Cheese Burger' and 'Jinju Chili Cream Cheese Muffin'.

Registered in December 2022 by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs as a major chili-producing region, Jinju City produces up to 27,000 tons of chili peppers annually, including dried peppers. Renowned nationwide for both quality and quantity, Jinju chili peppers have gained national recognition for their excellence through this collaboration.

McDonald's Korea cited the ability to source high-quality chili peppers grown in fertile soil and clean water, as well as the strong commitment of Jinju City officials to the partnership, as reasons for selecting Jinju chili peppers as the main ingredient for their new menu. Thanks to McDonald's decision and the passion of Jinju City officials, the Jinju Chili Cream Cheese Burger and Muffin have achieved remarkable success, selling 1 million units within two weeks of launch.

Jo Gyu-il, Mayor of Jinju City, said, "I was very pleased when McDonald's first proposed the collaboration, and I am even happier that it has produced such successful results. I want to express my gratitude to the staff who worked hard on everything from securing advertising locations and models to preparing various event materials. Congratulations to Lim Jeongseop, who became the main model for the McDonald's advertisement, and thank you to all the citizens who participated in promoting Jinju chili peppers."

He added, "Building on the success of the Jinju Chili Cream Cheese Burger and Muffin, we will do our best to discover more collaborative products using our city's excellent agricultural and specialty products."

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