POHANG — Gyeongsangbuk-do is hosting the "9th National Rice Farmers Convention" around the Pohang Stadium area from October 1 to 3. The event is hosted by the Korea Federation of Advanced Rice Farmers (KFARF) Central Federation and organized by the Gyeongsangbuk-do and Pohang City Federations.

The convention brings together some 30,000 attendees, including Gyeongsangbuk-do Vice Governor for Administrative Affairs Hwang Myung-seok, local members of the National Assembly, the Mayor of Pohang, provincial council members, officials from related organizations such as the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and the Rural Development Administration, members and families from 9 provincial and metropolitan city federations and 120 city and county federations, as well as local residents.

Under the slogan "Again, the Era of Rice!", the convention presents a leap forward and a future vision for the rice industry. It encapsulates the meaning that the essence of agriculture is the power of the future and that rice is the hope of the Republic of Korea.

On October 1, the "Korea Rice Industry Future Forum (Academic Symposium)" will be held, followed by a welcome reception, opening ceremony, and the "Rice-ful POWER Concert" on October 2. During the opening ceremony, outstanding members will be awarded, and major distinguished guests and provincial/city representatives will perform a vision proclamation ceremony under the banner "Again, the Era of Rice!". When participants press a button, 129 celebratory fireworks (aerial shells) symbolizing the nationwide advanced rice farmers organization will light up the Pohang sky.

Throughout the convention period, the indoor gymnasium and outdoor plaza will feature a 45-booth agricultural machinery exhibition hall, an exhibition hall for premium brand rice from the eight provinces nationwide, a rice consumption promotion pavilion, and a local premium agricultural product sales market.

The Gyeongsangbuk-do Federation of the Korea Federation of Advanced Rice Farmers was established in February 1999. Comprising 10,410 members across 21 cities and counties in the province, including Dalseong-gun and Gunwi-gun in Daegu, it is an agricultural organization that supports national food security through high-quality rice production and the dissemination of farming techniques, while leading changes in agriculture and rural communities.

Cho Hee-sung, President of the KFARF Central Federation, stated, "Let us, the advanced rice farmers nationwide, together create a new era where the value of our rice is re-illuminated and expands beyond tradition into a future cutting-edge industry."

Hwang Myung-seok, Vice Governor for Administrative Affairs of Gyeongsangbuk-do, remarked, "It is a pleasure to meet all of you, the national rice farmers who have guarded the nation's granary, here in Pohang. Gyeonggi-do [Gyeongsangbuk-do] will lead the scaling up of farming and innovation in the rice industry through the Great Agricultural Transformation cooperative farming, and support rice in leaping forward as a high-value-added cutting-edge K-Food industry."

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