KT&G (CEO Baek Bok-in) began its leaf tobacco planting volunteer work program on the 19th in Jecheon, Chungcheongbuk-do, to assist leaf tobacco farmers who are experiencing labor shortages. 

Employees from the KT&G Raw Materials Headquarters and the Gimcheon Plant who participated in the volunteer activities traveled to a leaf tobacco farm in Bongyang-eup, Jecheon-si, Chungcheongbuk-do, transported seedlings, and planted seedlings on approximately 15,000㎡ of farmland.

Due to the nature of its cultivation, leaf tobacco does not grow from seeds sown in the field, but rather from seedlings grown in nurseries and transplanted into the field.  This is a crucial task that determines the harvest of the year, and since 2009, KT&G has volunteered for 14 years to assist farmers with labor shortages and teach them how to cultivate high-quality leaf tobacco. 

In addition to leaf tobacco planting, they also assist with the labor-intensive summer harvest, resulting in a win-win situation for farmers throughout the year. 

Participating in the volunteer service, the manager of KT&G Gimcheon Plant, Lee Jung-hoon, stated, "In addition to population decline and aging, farmers are suffering from a worsening labor shortage as a result of COVID-19. We have been working hard, and we will continue to strive for win-win with farmers through various activities.” 

KT&G is the only Korean tobacco company that purchases domestic leaf tobacco, and from 2013 to the present, the company has allocated a total of 2.854 billion won to health screenings for farmers and scholarships for their children, as part of ongoing efforts to improve the welfare of farm households. In particular, in December of last year, 3 billion won was contributed to the Rural Community Mutual Growth Fund and various efforts are being made for shared growth such as rural development. 

(Photo1) On the 19th, KT&G executives and employees volunteered to plant leaf tobacco in Jecheon, Chungcheongbuk-do. The photo depicts KT&G executives and employees posing for a commemorative photo after volunteering to plant leaf tobacco. 

(Photo2) On the 19th, KT&G executives and employees volunteered to plant leaf tobacco in Jecheon, Chungcheongbuk-do. The photograph depicts KT&G executives and employees performing volunteer tobacco leaf transplant work.