Kim Sook-yi, 65, CEO of Haneulnae Chamdureup, which cultivates aralia shoots in Jangsu County, North Jeolla Province, has been selected as the Korea Forest Service's "Forester of the Month" for May.
Kim relocated to Jangsu, her husband's hometown, more than a decade ago. After struggling with the high labor requirements and low income from cultivating crops such as watermelon, she saw the potential of growing aralia shoots using forest land and switched her product line.
Aralia shoots are a representative wild spring green that stimulates the appetite. Rich in nutrients with outstanding taste and aroma, they are also called the "king of wild greens." They help reduce inflammation in the body and have antioxidant properties that benefit health. Because only one new shoot grows from each branch, the harvest volume is small, making them highly valued.
Kim decided to cultivate aralia shoots after noting their value and profitability. She established a 5-hectare aralia cultivation site on a mountainside at an altitude of 500 to 600 meters, which is suitable for aralia growth. This year, with support from the Korea Forest Service, she expanded the operation into a 10-hectare large-scale forest crop production complex.
Kim supplies her aralia shoots to the Garak Agricultural and Fisheries Wholesale Market in Seoul. After earning 60 million won in income last year, she expects to reach 100 million won this year.
"We will actively work to discover and support the production of region-specific forest products to revitalize the mountain village economy," said Lee Sang-ik, director general of the Forest Industry Policy Bureau at the Korea Forest Service.
