Outstanding Rice Varieties Selected on Rice Day... Agriculture Ministry to Implement Practical Measures to Boost Consumption

12th Rice Day Commemoration Ceremony
Commemorative Performance to Promote Rice Consumption, Awards for High-Quality Rice, and More

In celebration of Rice Day (August 18), the government held various events to promote rice consumption, including selecting and awarding outstanding rice varieties. The government announced that it will implement practical measures to encourage rice consumption in response to declining demand.

On August 18, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs stated that a commemorative event would be held at the Seoul Museum of Craft Art for the 12th Rice Day, aiming to raise awareness about the quality of domestic rice, promote a healthy rice-centered diet, and boost rice consumption.

Rice Day was designated by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, based on the interpretation of the Chinese character for rice “mi (米)” as eight-ten-eight (八·十·八). It reflects the idea that it takes eighty-eight steps by farmers to produce a single grain of rice. This year marks the 12th anniversary of the celebration. The theme of this year’s event, “A Grain That Connects Us,” highlights the historical and cultural significance of rice and seeks to cultivate a shared understanding of the rice industry’s sustainable future.

Key activities include awards for government-recognized high-quality varieties and for leading NongHyup rice brands, a commemorative performance to promote rice consumption, as well as exhibitions and hands-on experiences with rice and rice-processed foods. The government-selected high-quality varieties were finalized by the Korea Food Research Institute through an internal quality evaluation process, followed by six weeks of sensory tasting and evaluation by both the public and experts. Leading brands, selected by NongHyup, underwent their own assessment process and were chosen as the top representative brands by region and the ten leading brands nationwide.

The ceremony will also feature a commemorative performance aimed at promoting rice consumption. Representatives from related agencies such as NongHyup Agribusiness Group, the Korea Agency of Education, Promotion and Information Service in Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, as well as those involved in production, distribution, and consumption, will be in attendance. In addition, a congratulatory video by popular idol group ILLIT, the promotional ambassadors for rice consumption, will be presented.

The exhibition areas are composed of themed halls spotlighting the past, present, and future of rice; promotional halls for rice and processed rice foods; hands-on activity areas utilizing rice; and tasting booths for processed rice foods. Visitors can sample rice-based ice cream and rice snacks, participate in rice sack art using freshly milled rice from on-site machines, enjoy face painting with rice and rice plant characters, color rice drawing activities, photo booth experiences using photo frames themed around rice commemorative days, and visit giant rice straw photo zones, among other interactive activities.

Jung Hye-ryeon, Director General of the Food Grain Policy Bureau at the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, stated, "We hope this event will serve as a reminder of the value of rice produced through the hard work and dedication of farmers. Going forward, we will implement practical measures to encourage rice consumption in response to the ongoing decline, and we ask for the ongoing cooperation of related organizations and industry stakeholders."

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