President Kim Chun-jin of the Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corp. (aT) delivers his inaugural speech at an inauguration ceremony in Naju, Jeollanam-do, on March 16.

Former lawmaker Kim Chun-jin took office as the 19th president of the Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corp. (aT) at an inauguration ceremony in Naju, Jeollanam-do, on March 16, which was broadcast online.

In his inaugural speech, President Kim said, “I feel a sense of heavy responsibility at a time when climate change and COVID-19 have made the stable supply of food more significant.”

“I, along with aT executives and staffers who have faithfully played a pivotal role in the development of the agro-fishery industry, will devote ourselves to securing a stable supply of food and improving the quality of people’s lives,” he added.

“As reckless development and destruction of the environment left farming and fishery villages behind, self-sufficiency foundation for homegrown agro-fishery products is greatly threatened,” President Kim said.

Kim said he will propose legislation to create diverse demand by utilizing agro-fishery big data. That should help youth return to the villages and retirees make a steady, stable income. New aT President Kim served as a lawmaker of the 17th-, 18th- and 19th National Assembly.

He sat as a member of the National Assembly’s Agriculture, Food, Rural Affairs, Marine & Fisheries Committee and was chairman of the National Assembly Health and Welfare Committee.

He held prominent posts such a member of the supreme council of the ruling Democratic Party.

Kim is considered a seasoned expert in the agro-fishery and food sectors due to his remarkable parliamentary activities related to agro-fishery residents.

While serving as a lawmaker, Kim spearheaded institutional reform, particularly influencing direct and indirect impact of agro-fishery residents’ income in leading legislation such as the Act on the Invigoration of Direct Transaction of Agro-fishery Products.

A view of Korea Pavilion at Foodex Japan 2021. (Photos: aT)

COVID-19 Will Not Deter Demand for K-Food at Foodex Japan 2021

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (MAFRA) and aT were engaged in trade negations for Korean-produced agro-fishery food products worth $132 million during Foodex Japan 2021.

aT displayed diverse, promising export items such as ginseng, beverages, sauces, ramyeon and tteokbokki in cooperation with 47 Korean food exporters to expand Korea’s presence in the Japanese food market. Korean produced food exports to Japan account for 17.7 percent of the Korean food export market.

Among the items which saw attention from buyers were fresh fruits, kimchi seasonings with Korean features, rice cookies, makkeolli, and other rice processed products, as well as products tailored to meet buyers’ needs.

Amidst restricted personnel exchanges between Korea and Japan caused by COVID-19, Foodex Japan 2021 took a format of a hybrid B2B event combining an off-line exhibition and online trade negotiations.

aT dispatched officials responsible for trade negations with buyers instead of Korean exporters who cannot attend the exhibition.

aT’s active support on off-line and online one-on-one trade negotiations with buyers paid off: Striking deals on exports worth more than $10 million on the spot, including fresh melons and makkeolli products. Foodex Japan 2021, marking the 41st rendition, attracted 1,313 companies from 44 countries and 26,000 buyers despite the spread of COVID-19.

At Director Oh Hyung-wan, in charge of food exports, said “Japan is Korea’s No. 1 agro-fishery food export market with favorable conditions such as geographical proximity, a similar culinary culture, high purchasing power, and a wide Korean residents’ consumer base.” aT strives to expand exports to the Japanese market by making a pitch for health and functional features of Korean-produced food products, he added.