KT&G (CEO Baek Bok-in) has delivered a support fund of over KRW 520 million to foster ongoing mutual growth with domestic tobacco leaf farming households. This support fund is utilized for various purposes, including covering health check-up expenses for tobacco leaf cultivators, providing scholarships for their children, and supporting the installation of energy-saving devices for greenhouse ventilation.

Tobacco leaf farming households are facing challenges in securing labor due to the declining rural population and aging issues. Furthermore, due to the nature of tobacco leaf cultivation, which is difficult to mechanize, the labor intensity is very high. Tobacco leaf cultivators, who have an older average age, require significant attention to health management.

In particular, since last year, KT&G has been expanding its support by providing greenhouse ventilation energy-saving devices that not only reduce fuel costs but also contribute to carbon emission reduction. This device allows the recirculation of heat that is emitted externally during the tobacco leaf drying process through a drying machine, thereby reducing fuel consumption. Following the support for installations in 84 farming households last year, KT&G has expanded the program this year to include 100 households and increased the support amount per household.

Since 2013, KT&G has been providing support to tobacco leaf farming households, including health check-up expenses and student scholarships, amounting to a total of KRW 3.85 billion until this year. During the same period, the number of beneficiaries who received support amounted to a cumulative total of 13,050 tobacco leaf cultivators.

Meanwhile, as part of its ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) management, KT&G is dedicated to fostering mutual growth with its raw material suppliers, including tobacco leaf farming households. Each year, KT&G dispatches employee volunteer groups to assist the farming households during the transplantation and harvesting seasons, providing additional manpower support. These efforts reflect KT&G's commitment to sustainable business practices and community engagement. 

Kim Jung-ho, the Head of Raw Material Division at KT&G, stated, "Our company has been continuously engaging in various long-term activities to grow together with stakeholders, including farmers. We hope that this support will contribute to improving the health and economic conditions of the farmers' lives. We will continue to foster mutual growth through practical support that can make a real difference.”

(Photo description) KT&G has has delivered a support fund of over KRW 520 million to foster ongoing mutual growth with domestic tobacco leaf farming households. The photo captures Kim Jung-ho, Head of Raw Material Division at KT&G (left), and Jang Sung-woo, Chairman of the Tobacco Leaf Cooperative Association (right), participating in the "2023 Tobacco Leaf Farming Support Fund Delivery Ceremony" on June 14th. They are seen taking a commemorative photo together.