Jeollanam-do is bringing its flagship rice, Saecheongmu, into the ready-meal aisle — supplying it as an ingredient for grab-and-go options like boxed lunches and triangular gimbap through major retail channels.
On the 16th, the provincial government announced the first shipment in partnership with GS Retail. At a loading ceremony at the Jangheung Jeongnamjin Integrated RPC, provincial officials, Jangheung County leaders and Nonghyup representatives dispatched 8 metric tons (about 8.8 short tons) of Saecheongmu to GS Retail’s ready-meal processing facility.
The program sources rice from Suncheon Nonghyup, the Jeongnamjin Integrated RPC and Haenam Hwasan Nonghyup. The grain will be processed into boxed lunches and triangular gimbap at seven convenience-food factories nationwide and then sold at GS25 convenience stores and GS The Fresh outlets.
Jeollanam-do plans to supply roughly 20,000 metric tons (about 22,046 short tons) of Saecheongmu — enough to feed approximately 3.2 million people in Jeonnam and Gwangju for about 40 days.
Officials say they will deepen partnerships with major retailers to meet the rise of single-person households and the booming convenience-food market, while continuing to develop processed foods using Jeonnam rice and secure stable sales channels.
