Ongjin-gun County (Governor Jang Jeong-min) saw its "Traditional Jang Production and Income Generation Support Project," run for four years since 2022, bear fruit this September as products went on sale. The project began as a residents' research group, went on to form a corporation and has now reached the sales stage, giving island farm households a way to earn income from processed products they make themselves.
 [The Korean Today] Results of Ongjin-gun County's Traditional Jang Production and Income Generation Support Project © Reporter Kim Mi-hee |
The project was launched to strengthen the competitiveness of local agriculture and raise farm household incomes. Its starting point was the "Traditional Jang Research Group," formed in 2022. The group's work led to the official establishment of the Baengnyeongdo Kongmaeul Agricultural Association Corporation in January 2026, and the corporation brought its products to market in September of the same year. The process, from research group to corporation to the start of sales, took four years.
Several preparatory steps came before sales began. Ongjin-gun County set up a production base capable of making high-quality traditional jang from quality locally grown produce. Production staff built up their expertise through on-site training and benchmarking of cases in other regions. The county also prepared for the product launch by modernizing production facilities, standardizing quality and providing consulting on establishing the corporation, in that order.
Traditional jang is considered a labor-intensive product, from selecting raw ingredients to fermentation and aging, and it is difficult to maintain consistent quality. This appears to be why Ongjin-gun County focused first on upgrading facilities and quality standards and on putting a corporate structure in place. The aim is to move beyond small-scale production by individual farm households and build a sales system that can supply products steadily.
The initial market response was also positive. Consumers responded enthusiastically at the first on-site sales event, held on the 13th at Kongdol Beach on Baengnyeongdo Island. By choosing one of the island's signature tourist spots as the first sales venue, the event let visitors to the island encounter the products directly.
 [The Korean Today] Traditional jang products of the Baengnyeongdo Kongmaeul Agricultural Association Corporation © Reporter Kim Mi-hee |
Ongjin-gun County expects the project to become a stable source of income for participating farm households and to contribute significantly to revitalizing the local economy. Because it raised added value through processed goods rather than simply selling raw produce, the project is seen as a useful model for agriculture in island areas far from mainland markets.
The Baengnyeongdo Kongmaeul Agricultural Association Corporation plans to expand its product lineup to include gochujang and meju powder and to continue managing quality. As the range of products grows, the sales base is also expected to widen, further strengthening the income structure of participating farm households.
An official from the Baengnyeongdo Kongmaeul Agricultural Association Corporation (Co-CEOs Park Young-ja and Jang Mi-ok) said, "After four years of effort, we have achieved the meaningful results of establishing the corporation and launching our products," adding, "We will do our best to establish ourselves as the region's representative traditional jang brand." Whether the traditional jang project, which began with administrative support and resident participation, can become Baengnyeongdo Island's signature brand will depend on future product expansion and quality management.
[ Reporter Kim Mi-hee: incheonsouth@thekoreantoday.com ]
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