Damyang's 'Daesuk Malgeun Damyang Rice' takes grand prize; Haenam's 'Ttangkkeut Haetsal' wins top excellence award
South Jeolla Province has named its "2026 Top 10 High-Quality Brand Rice" selections, honoring the representative brands driving production and retail of the province's rice while upholding its reputation as home to the nation's finest.
Damyang's "Daesuk Malgeun Damyang Rice" took the grand prize, while Haenam's "Ttangkkeut Haetsal" claimed the top excellence award. Three brands earned excellence awards: Naju's "Wanggeoni Tamnaeun Ssal," Boseong's "Nokchaminiin Boseong Ssal" and Jangheung's "Areumi Ssal." Five brands received encouragement awards: Yeonggwang's "Sagyejeori Saneunjip," Yeongam's "Dalmaji Ssal," Goheung's "Suho Cheonsa Geongang Mi," Muan's "Hwangthorang Ssal" and Jindo's "Bobae Jinmi Ssal."
Damyang's grand-prize winner earned consistently high marks across all evaluation categories, including quality grading and taste assessment. Haenam's "Ttangkkeut Haetsal," based on the domestically developed "Saecheongmu" variety, was praised for rigorous quality control and superior cooked-rice flavor.
South Jeolla Province has run the Top 10 High-Quality Brand Rice evaluation since 2005, selecting brands that consumers can trust through strict quality management.
To ensure fairness and objectivity, the province commissioned six specialized institutions — including the National Agricultural Products Quality Management Service, the Korea Food Research Institute, the Agricultural Technology Institute and the Health and Environment Research Institute — to conduct blind assessments covering variety purity, quality grading, safety testing and taste evaluation.
The 10 selected brands will share a total of 150 million won ($108,000) in incentive funding, allocated on a tiered basis to support quality improvement, promotional marketing and sales.
Yu Deok-gyu, director general of the province's Agriculture, Livestock and Food Bureau, said the province would continue strengthening production and retail infrastructure — including securing distribution channels and modernizing rice processing center facilities — so that South Jeolla rice earns its true market value and is recognized for top quality both at home and abroad. "We will further reinforce the high-quality image of South Jeolla rice and provide management and support so it grows into a brand that consumers trust and seek out," he said.
With the launch of the Gwangju-South Jeolla Integrated Special City set for July 1, the province plans to pursue joint marketing campaigns combining the newly selected top 10 brand rice with rice products from the Gwangju area, opening up a range of new sales channels.
kkm9971@heraldcorp.com
