(Hongseong=Yonhap News) Reporter Im Bo-yeon = 'Hongseong Hanwoo' has opened the first door to the Middle East market as the first domestic beef to be exported to the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Hongseong County and the Hongseong Livestock Cooperative held a ceremony to commemorate the export of Hongseong Hanwoo to the UAE on the 14th, pledging a global leap for the Hanwoo industry.
The Hongseong Livestock Cooperative had previously exported 99.4 kg of beef, including loin, rib, and chuck, on the 30th of last month.
The Hanwoo exported this time was produced by the Hongseong Livestock Cooperative, and is considered the result of long-term cooperation among Hongseong County, Hanwoo farmers, producer groups, and local businesses in terms of quality and institutional foundation.
Hongseong Slaughterhouse Hongseong KCI received approval as the first domestic slaughterhouse to be certified halal in the UAE in January 2025 after long preparation.
Then, on the 11th of last month, it received official approval from the UAE government (Ministry of Climate Change and Environment·MOCCAE) as an export facility, making the export of Hongseong Hanwoo fully possible.
Hongseong County had invested over 2.6 billion won over the past 10 years to support facilities that meet international standards for export facilities.
Since 2010, it has maintained a differentiated quality management system for Hongseong Hanwoo through the 'Hongseong Hanwoo military quality certification system'.
In May, Hongseong County, Hongseong KCI, Hongseong Livestock Cooperative, and Hongseong Hanwoo Cooperative signed a 'Hongseong Hanwoo export activation business agreement' to strengthen the competitiveness of the Hanwoo industry and increase farmers' income through expanded Hanwoo exports.
In June, Hongseong County and Hongseong KCI held a solo promotional event in Dubai, inviting local distributors and top hotel buyers to pioneer the Hongseong Hanwoo Middle East export market, and achieved the signing of export MOUs with local businesses.
In August, Hongseong County appointed Moon Kyung-soo, the general chef of Dubai's 'Sunset Hospitality Group', as a Hongseong Hanwoo UAE promotional ambassador and strengthened local promotion.
Some of the exported volume will be supplied to the restaurant 'HANU', which is operated by Chef Moon.
Hongseong County Mayor Kim Myeong-gi said, "The export of Hongseong Hanwoo to the UAE is the result of long-term preparation by Hongseong County, producer groups, and slaughterhouses" and "In the future, we will strengthen trust relationships with domestic and foreign institutions to make Hongseong Hanwoo..."