Three leaders in rural healthcare and agricultural innovation receive 35th Daesan Rural Award

[Financial News] Three people who contributed to improving rural healthcare, expanding the foundation for organic agriculture, and preserving native seeds received the Daesan Rural Award.
The Daesan Rural Foundation, Kyobo Life’s public-interest foundation, said on the 29th that it held the 35th Daesan Rural Award ceremony on the 28th at EL Tower in Seoul’s Seocho-gu district. This year’s recipients are Hwang Chi-ik, CEO of Jirisan Perilla Farmer (Agricultural Management); Lee Geun-i, CEO of the agricultural corporation Ubo Farm (Rural Development); and Park Geon-hee, head of the Pyeongchang County Health and Medical Center (Rural Contribution).
This year, after the existing Agricultural Public Service category was reorganized as the Rural Contribution category, a medical professional was selected as its first recipient, drawing attention. Since taking office as head of the Pyeongchang County Health and Medical Center in 2023, Park has worked to build a rural public healthcare system by expanding frailty-prevention programs, home-based medical care, and digital health management services. Park was recognized for developing a community-based medical model that links prevention, treatment, and care.
Hwang expanded the domestic production base for organic perilla and distributed jaso seeds and cultivation techniques that were at risk of disappearing. Hwang also helped increase farm incomes by establishing a system to reliably purchase, process, and sell produce from 16 organic perilla farms across the country.
Lee restored 450 varieties of native rice and established a cultivation and conservation network involving around 100 small farms nationwide. Lee was also highly praised for running a program that gives urban residents opportunities to take part in farming and for promoting the value of agricultural genetic resources by using native rice in food and traditional alcoholic beverages.
Kim Gi-young, chairman of the Daesan Rural Foundation, said that efforts to safeguard the foundations of life through cooperation and trust are especially important in times of crisis, and congratulated the recipients for their dedication to rural communities.
The recipients were awarded plaques and prize money totaling 120 million won: 50 million won each in the Agricultural Management and Rural Development categories, and 20 million won in the Rural Contribution category.
The Daesan Rural Award was established in 1991 in accordance with the wishes of Daesan Shin Yong-ho, founder of Kyobo Life. It recognizes and honors individuals and organizations that have contributed to the development of agriculture and rural communities. Nominations for the 36th awards will be accepted from January 4 to March 31, 2027.
 

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