"Writing a New Chapter in Goyang Agriculture with Gawaji Rice" Mayor Lee Donghwan Demonstrates Traditional Hand Transplanting

Goyang City Begins Full-Scale Transplanting of 'Gawaji No. 1'
Full-Scale Promotion of Goyang's Signature Brand 'Gawaji Rice'
Gawaji Rice: Uniting Local Agriculture, Identity, and Brand Value
Establishing Itself as Goyang City's Strategic Rice Variety

Goyang Special City in Gyeonggi Province (Mayor Lee Donghwan) successfully held the 'Rice Transplanting Event for Promoting Specialized Agricultural Products in 2025' on the 22nd at 1510 Gusan-dong, Ilsanseo-gu.

Lee Donghwan, mayor of Goyang Special City, attended the 'Rice Transplanting Event for Promoting Specialized Agricultural Products in 2025' held on the 22nd at 1510 Gusan-dong, Ilsanseo-gu, and participated in hand rice transplanting. Provided by Goyang Special City

This event was organized by the Goyang City Rural Leaders Association and the Agricultural Technology Center. More than 20 people, including Mayor Lee Donghwan, local farmers, and agricultural officials, attended the event, where they performed hand rice transplanting to pray for a bountiful harvest and demonstrated the use of a rice transplanter.

'Gawaji No. 1' is an early-maturing rice variety developed in 2016 by the Gyeonggi-do Agricultural Research and Extension Services. It is known for its excellent taste and strong resistance to lodging, which ensures high quality and stable yields.

Currently, 'Gawaji No. 1' is cultivated on approximately 347 hectares, or 38.8%, of Goyang City's total rice cultivation area of 895 hectares. It is used not only for table rice, but also as an ingredient in various processed foods such as tteok (rice cakes), nurungji (scorched rice), traditional liquor, and as a raw material for local specialty products.

Mayor Lee Donghwan personally participated in the rice transplanting event, demonstrating traditional hand transplanting. He emphasized, "Gawaji rice is a valuable asset that inherits the historical significance of Goyang Gawaji rice seeds, the first cultivated rice seeds on the Korean Peninsula from over 5,000 years ago, and it is a prestigious brand that represents Goyang City."

Lee Donghwan, mayor of Goyang Special City, riding a rice transplanter during rice planting work. Provided by Goyang Special City

He added, "The city will spare no effort in providing active support to increase farmers' income and revitalize the local economy through product development and market expansion."

The Goyang City Agricultural Technology Center plans to strengthen cooperation with the Gyeonggi-do Agricultural Research and Extension Services to improve the quality and establish a stable production base for 'Gawaji No. 1.' The center will also continue to provide field-oriented cultivation education and technical support.

This event is part of Goyang City's efforts to foster strategic rice varieties that enhance both the identity and competitiveness of local agriculture. It is regarded as a meaningful occasion where the historical symbolism of 'Gawaji rice seeds' and the future-oriented value of agriculture are harmonized.

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