Sun-Dried Salt Industry

[Anchor Lead]

Efforts are being made to develop the sun-dried salt produced on Korea's west coast as an important national industry. The industry is seeking a new path for growth by adding eco-friendly production facilities and interactive tour programs.

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Rarely found in Korea, this is a sun-dried salt farm located on inside a port. Since the salty water called "gansu" is changed often, the salt produced here contains less bitter-tasting magnesium chloride.

[Soundbite] Shin Jong-man(EO, Sun-dried Salt Company) : "Everyone, from children to the elderly, says the salt has a slightly sweet flavor."

The provincial government of Jeollabuk-do plans to invest roughly 1.7 billion won in the region's salt fields to install eco-friendly facilities and standardize product packaging. The foundations for the so-called sixth industry will be built in adjacent areas, which will be equipped with sea water pools, steam saunas, hot springs, and restaurants. A successful case can be found in this salt farm in Jeollanam-do Province, which built a salt museum and a botanical garden seven years ago. Last year around 300,000 tourists visited the farm.

[Soundbite] Kim Dae-geun(Jeollabuk-do Provincial Gov't) : "If the sixth industry is going to be launched, facilities for interactive programs and PR centers should be adopted. We then have to get private funding."

Sun-dried salt fields, once in decline, are looking for a comeback as landmarks of the sixth industry by incorporating interactive tourism programs.