Mayor Min Hyungbae Proposes "Korean Soybean Labeling System" to President Lee at Cabinet Meeting

Emphasizing the Right to Know and the Need to Expand Korean Soybean Consumption

Jeonnam Gwangju Region Accounts for 14.5% of Soybean Cultivation Area Nationwide... Hopes for Broader Market Access

Min Hyungbae, Special Mayor of Jeonnam Gwangju Integration, drew attention by raising the need for a "Korean Soybean Labeling System" at the Cabinet meeting.

At the Cabinet meeting held on the 21st, Mayor Min suggested to President Lee Jaemyung, "Consumption of Korean soybeans is not increasing because a labeling system has not yet been introduced," adding, "A labeling system should be implemented so consumers can easily distinguish between Korean soybeans and others."

President Lee responded, "The right to know, the freedom of choice, and the health of the greater public should be prioritized over the convenience of food companies," and stated, "This matter needs to be reflected in government policy."

This proposal is seen as aiming to both stabilize farmers' income by expanding consumption of Korean soybeans, and to guarantee consumer choice.

Min Hyungbae, Special Mayor of Jeonnam Gwangju Integration. Photo by Jin-seok Shim

Jeonnam Gwangju Integration Special City has been continuously pursuing a policy to convert paddy fields into soybean fields to stabilize rice supply and increase farmers' income.

As of last year, the soybean cultivation area in the Jeonnam Gwangju region stood at 12,220 hectares, accounting for 14.5% of the nationwide total of 84,287 hectares, making it one of the largest production areas in the country.

However, despite the increase in production, consumption has not kept pace, leading to accumulated stocks of Korean soybeans and growing management burdens for farms. In particular, there has been ongoing criticism that the absence of a distinct labeling system for the origin of soybeans used in processed foods such as tofu, doenjang, and soy milk limits the expansion of Korean soybean consumption.

In response, Jeonnam Gwangju Integration Special City officially suggested the introduction of a labeling and certification system for Korean soybeans to the central government in April, and has continued to push for reforms to the relevant system.

Meanwhile, with the president publicly addressing the need to reflect this issue in policy at the Cabinet meeting, there is a growing expectation that the Korean Soybean Labeling System may move toward a government-level institutional discussion.

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