Mutual Growth Connecting Korean Pork and Chestnuts… Korean Pork Self-Help Fund Steps Up to Promote Consumption for Chestnut Farmers

The Korea Pork Self-Funding Management Committee (Chairman Lee Ki-hong) is launching a consumption promotion campaign to help domestic chestnut farmers struggling with sluggish consumption and accumulating inventory. Following onion and honey consumption promotion activities in the first half of the year, the initiative aims to expand the combined consumption of Korean pork and domestic agricultural products.

According to the Korea Pork Self-Help Fund, during the ‘Dialogue with Farmers and Fishermen’ held at the Blue House State Guest House on October 26, the difficulties faced by chestnut farmers, including the accumulation of approximately 30,000 tons of chestnut inventory, were conveyed. In response, the Korea Pork Self-Help Fund organized a consumption promotion activity to enjoy Korean pork and domestic chestnuts together.

As part of the campaign, Handon MallStarting November 9, 2kg of domestic chestnuts will be given to customers who purchase products from the ‘How About Korean Pork Tonight?’ special exhibition.This promotion is limited to the first approximately 1,100 participants and will end once the available stock is exhausted. Detailed participation instructions can be found on Handon Mall.

Cooking content featuring Honorary Ambassador for Handon Jeong Jong-cheol and Chairman Lee Ki-hong will also be presented. The plan is to introduce Handon dishes paired with domestic chestnuts and suggest recipes that can be easily followed at home. On Handon's official social media channels, a "Comment Event to Support Chestnut Farmers with Handon" will be held to encourage consumer interest and participation.

Earlier, Chairman Lee Ki-hong attended the 7th Forestry Workers' Day commemorative event held at COEX in Seoul on November 2 and met with Cho Jwa-yeon, President of the Korea Chestnut Growers Association. At the meeting, he listened to the difficulties faced by chestnut farmers, such as sluggish consumption and accumulating inventory, and discussed ways for mutual growth.

The Korea Pork Self-Help Fund also introduced the past connection between pigs and chestnuts as the background for this campaign. They explained that in the past, while operating a pig farm and a chestnut orchard at Yongin Natural Farm, they utilized compost made from pig manure for chestnut tree cultivation and even exported the harvested chestnuts.

In June, the Korea Pork Self-Help Fund also suggested the co-consumption of domestic ingredients by showcasing recipe content such as pork jajangmyeon and duruchigi using domestic onions, and pork neck steak with honey.

Chairman Lee Ki-hong expressed his regret over the reality that carefully cultivated chestnuts are not being sold on time due to sluggish consumption, and stated that he hopes this campaign will help revitalize the consumption of domestic chestnuts and provide practical assistance to farmers.