Pohang City Completes Gyeongsang Region Forest Products Logistics Terminal, Emerges as New Distribution Hub

First in the Nation to Introduce an AI Automation System
Automating Sorting, Sterilization, and Packaging of Forest Products

On November 10, Pohang City completed the "Gyeongsang Region Forest Products Logistics Terminal" in Daeryeon-ri, Heunghae-eup, establishing itself as a new hub for regional forest product distribution and leading innovation in the industry.

Pohang City held the completion ceremony for the "Gyeongsang Region Forest Products Logistics Terminal," which will serve as a hub for innovation in forest product distribution, on the 10th in Daeryeon-ri, Heunghae-eup. Photo by Pohang City

The completion ceremony was attended by Lee Kangdeok, Mayor of Pohang; Kim Ilman, Chairman of the Pohang City Council; Park Eunsik, Director General of the Forest Industry Policy Bureau at the Korea Forest Service; Son Byeongung, Head of the Pohang City Forestry Cooperative; forestry cooperative heads and representatives of forestry organizations from North Gyeongsang Province; and about 500 citizens, all celebrating the terminal's opening.

This project was launched in 2022 after being selected as a Korea Forest Service public offering, aiming to overcome declining forestry productivity and distribution challenges caused by population decrease and aging demographics.

A total of 4 billion won (2 billion won in national funding, 600 million won in provincial funding, and 1.4 billion won in city funding) was invested. Construction began in December 2024 on a 5,000-square-meter site donated by the Forestry Cooperative, resulting in the completion of a multi-purpose mountain distribution center (with a total floor area of 964 square meters) in just over a year.

The forest products logistics terminal is the second of its kind in the country, following the one in Muju.

Notably, this is the first facility in the nation to introduce a robot-based AI automation system, automating the entire process of sorting, sterilizing, and packaging forest products. With a collection center, cold and frozen storage, and an automated sorting system, the terminal is expected to significantly improve the freshness and distribution efficiency of clean forest products.

The city also plans to address the short shelf life of forest products by constructing a processing center next year. Through this center, it will develop value-added processed products such as raspberry puree, sliced pine mushrooms, and packaged wild greens.

Mayor Lee Kangdeok stated, "With the completion of this logistics terminal, we have enhanced the competitiveness of local forest products and established a distribution infrastructure that streamlines the flow from production to consumption. Moving forward, we will work to expand domestic distribution networks and strengthen our export base in conjunction with the upcoming processing center."

Completion of the Gyeongsang Region Wild Edible Plant Logistics Terminal. Photo by Pohang City

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