Kim Dong-yeon: "I Will Make Gyeonggi Province the Hub and Heart of Korean Livestock Industry"

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Kim Kap-dong] The 'Eco Farmland,' the nation's largest livestock complex tourism site in the public sector, opened its doors on the 25th after 17 years of preparation.

At the opening ceremony held on the 25th at the Eco Farmland project site in the Hwawon district, Mado-myeon, Hwaseong, Governor Kim Dong-yeon of Gyeonggi Province said, "Over the 17 years of carrying forward this project, it faced multiple suspensions and risks of being stranded, but with the eighth civilian government term of Gyeonggi Province investing over 60 billion won in this place, it has finally opened its doors. I believe that Gyeonggi Eco Farmland has created a significant chapter in history. I am very pleased."

He continued, "We have gathered everything about livestock here—research, experience, healing, and welfare." He added specific plans: "In livestock R&D;, we will create a new catalyst for Korean livestock industry; in the equestrian complex, we will create a space for rehabilitation and emotional healing through communion with animals. Gyeonggi Province, which first established a livestock animal welfare bureau in Korea, will take the lead in developing the pet complex as a space that realizes reverence for life and animal welfare."

Governor Kim further stated, "I will make Gyeonggi Province the hub and heart of Korean livestock industry." He emphasized, "I have long believed that agriculture and livestock must be at the center of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Gyeonggi Province will lead the way in creating a new industrial axis that guarantees ecology, environment, and our future food security."

The opening ceremony, held as part of the 18th 'People's Economy Site Tour' in Hwaseong, was attended by approximately 500 people, including Gyeonggi Province councilors, livestock organizations, and local residents.

Governor Kim also signed a 'Livestock Development Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)' with An Byung-woo, CEO of NH Economic Holdings' Livestock Economy Division. The agreement involves mutual cooperation in livestock improvement support, farm consulting, livestock product distribution and processing, breeding of quality dairy cattle herds and distribution, selection and development of guaranteed sires, and support for establishing and operating AI-based smart platforms.

Gyeonggi Province's Eco Farmland is a complex livestock facility with research, experience, healing, and welfare functions, spanning 119 hectares (1,189,275 square meters) with a total floor area of 46,670 square meters. Main facilities include △ a livestock research and development (R&D;) complex for livestock experimentation and breeding stock management △ a healing and wellness equestrian complex supporting emotional healing and leisure activities for residents through horse culture experience and training △ a pet complex equipped with adoption centers and animal welfare education facilities.

The livestock research and development (R&D;) complex spans 29,359 square meters and houses cow barns, compost facilities, quarantine barns, feed warehouses, and farm equipment storage. Research will be conducted on specialization of Gyeonggi Hanwoo beef cattle, preservation and distribution of indigenous livestock, and industrialization of dairy cattle new breeds.

The healing and wellness equestrian complex, spanning 8,474 square meters, is equipped with riding stables, indoor arenas, round arenas, walking machines, and farrier facilities. It will operate public equestrian grounds for children, people with disabilities, and socially vulnerable groups, lease facilities to promote private equestrian events, and handle training and distribution of domestic riding horses.

The pet complex, spanning 1,406 square meters, houses a cat adoption center, exercise areas, a pet education center, and play areas. Various adoption programs, educational activities, and playtime with pets will be held to promote a culture of reverence for life.

The concept of creating 'Eco Farmland' began in 2008 when the completion of the fourth polder project in the Hwawon district of Mado and Seoshin-myeon in Hwaseong was finalized. The polder, developed to increase rice production, required reexamination of its utilization efficiency due to declining rice consumption since the late 1990s. Accordingly, the government began seeking new ways to utilize the polder land, and during this process, Gyeonggi Province proposed creating a large-scale livestock industrial complex. With the government accepting this proposal, the Eco Farmland project was launched in earnest.

Over the past 17 years, Gyeonggi Province has invested a total of 124.6 billion won in Eco Farmland to lead the future of Korea's livestock industry, including the creation of an agricultural, livestock, and marine products complex R&D; cluster. In particular, out of the entire investment budget, 60.9 billion won in provincial funds were invested during the eighth civilian government term under Governor Kim Dong-yeon, achieving swift results.

Centered on Eco Farmland, the province plans to implement various linked projects including strengthening research, development, and distribution of livestock technology, operating equestrian culture experience and youth career exploration programs, and promoting a culture of respect for pets and horse industry revitalization. The province plans to establish a safe and healthy livestock product supply system, including smart, eco-friendly, and animal welfare-based livestock models, through cooperation with local livestock farms and private enterprises.