On the 13th, KT&G (CEO Baek Bok-in) deployed employee volunteers to help leaf tobacco farmers who are struggling due to a shortage of workers in Asan City, South Chungcheong Province. 

Leaf tobacco is harvested in midsummer, from July to August. It is difficult to mechanize, and most of the harvest is performed manually, requiring a lot of labor. The labor intensity is also known to be very high. In particular, Korean farms are experiencing difficulties in securing a sufficient workforce due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the continuous decline of the rural population.

In response, KT&G has been continuously deploying employee volunteers to leaf tobacco farms every year since 2007. This year, employees of the Raw Materials HQ and Gimcheon Plant visited a leaf tobacco farm in Dunpo-myeon, Asan City, and helped harvest about 5,700 kg of leaf tobacco from 16,000 square meters of cultivated land.

KT&G is practicing win-win cooperation with farmers throughout the year by providing hands-on help not only in leaf tobacco harvesting in the summer but also in transplantation in the spring.

The company has also continued to provide economic support for the promotion of the welfare of leaf tobacco farmers. In May, the company donated KRW 400 million to support health check-ups for farmers and to provide scholarships for the children of farmers. From 2013 to the present, the accumulated amount of support amounted to KRW 2.85 billion, and 7,957 farmers have benefited to date. 

An official at KT&G said, “I hope that this employee harvesting service has been of some help to farmers who are struggling due to the COVID-19 pandemic and heat waves.” He added, “We will continue to provide practical support to improve the quality of life of farmers and we will strive to continue to grow together with them.”



 (Photo Description) 

KT&G employees visit a leaf tobacco farm in Dunpo-myeon, Asan City on the 13th to provide harvesting service. 

The photo is an image of employees engaged in leaf tobacco harvesting volunteer work.



(Photo Description)

KT&G employees visit a leaf tobacco farm in Dunpo-myeon, Asan City on the 13th to provide harvesting service. 

The photo is an image of employees engaged in leaf tobacco harvesting volunteer work.