[Edaily Reporter SIN SOO-JUNG ] KT&G Corporation announced on the 3rd that it conducted a volunteer harvest activity on the 2nd at tobacco farms in Bongnam-myeon, Gimje, North Jeolla Province.

About 20 KT&G Corporation employees participated in this volunteer activity. The employees visited farms facing labor shortages during the harvest season and assisted with the tobacco leaf harvest.

Tobacco farming involves harvesting in the middle of summer and is highly labor-intensive, as mechanization is difficult. Since 2007, KT&G Corporation has continued to conduct annual volunteer activities for tobacco farmers to support those struggling to secure labor due to the declining rural population and an aging workforce.

The KT&G Corporation also provides welfare support to farmers. Last May, KT&G Corporation donated 400 million won in welfare funds to cover health checkup costs for tobacco farmers and their children’s tuition. From 2013 through this year, a cumulative total of approximately 16,500 farmers have received this support.

That same month, KT&G Corporation also decided to raise the purchase price of domestically produced tobacco leaves to alleviate the burden on farmers caused by high oil prices and rising labor costs. As a result, the total purchase cost is expected to increase by approximately 2.2 billion won compared to last year.

Jeong Seong-heon, Head of KT&G Corporation’s Procurement and Operations Division, stated, “We have been providing volunteer services for seedling transplanting and harvesting for 20 years to support farming households struggling to secure labor due to the declining and aging rural population,” adding, “We will continue to provide various forms of support beyond volunteer activities to foster mutual growth with farming households.”