Gangwon Province home to 833 Chikhanwoo cattle as rare Korean breed rebounds from near-extinction

The Chikhanwoo, a rare Korean cattle breed prized for its exceptional flavor and distinctive striped coat, once teetered on the edge of extinction — but a new census has found 833 of the animals thriving in Gangwon Province alone.

The total Chikhanwoo population nationwide stands at 1,950 head, with Gangwon Province accounting for 43 percent of that figure. The breed is not simply ordinary Hanwoo fed a diet containing kudzu root; it is a genetically distinct variety that differs from standard Hanwoo cattle.

The Chikhanwoo is a rare breed recognized by its deep brown and black stripes. Its meat is prized for a clean, rich beefy flavor.

According to historical records, the breed is a native livestock variety raised since the Goguryeo era. Its population plummeted after the Japanese colonial period, leaving it classified as an endangered genetic resource unique to Korea.

The Gangwon Province Livestock Technology Research Institute announced Thursday that the figures emerged from a full individual census of Chikhanwoo in the province, conducted to systematically preserve and manage the breed's genetic resources and establish its bloodline registry.

Gangwon Province's 833 Chikhanwoo are raised across 47 farms in eight cities and counties, a 17 percent increase from 713 head the previous year. Of those, 545 are cows and 288 are bulls, and the population is expected to continue growing.

The institute issues Chikhanwoo management certificates to farms in the province and tracks the movement and slaughter history of individual animals, building a stable foundation for production and retail.

The institute said it will work to preserve and develop Gangwon Province's Chikhanwoo population through systematic bloodline management and the production and supply of superior genetic resources.