Gunwi-gun signs MOU with Ministry of Interior and Safety, Lotte Wellfood to promote local apples

Gunwi-gun in North Gyeongsang Province signed a regional cooperation MOU with the Ministry of Interior and Safety and Lotte Wellfood at Government Complex Seoul on Thursday to promote the use of locally grown Gunwi apples.

The agreement was signed as part of the ministry's 2026 program to support collaboration between population-decline regions and private companies.

Gunwi-gun and Lotte Wellfood will work together to open new distribution channels for local agricultural products and raise the profile of Gunwi apples by leveraging the company's product development and retail capabilities.

The partners will use the distribution networks of Lotte Wellfood and Korail Distribution to expand market access for jointly developed products and promote Gunwi apples and other local produce at key consumer touchpoints.

To mark the product launch, a pop-up store at Seoul Station will run for four days through Sunday.

The pop-up store will offer product promotions, sales and tastings, alongside introductions to Gunwi's flagship apple variety "Golden Ball" and local food products, as well as a range of consumer participation events.

The partnership will also be showcased at the Suseong Mot Festival in Daegu from Sept. 18 to 20 and at the 3rd Social Value Festa at COEX in Seoul from Sept. 21 to 22, where the jointly developed products and Gunwi's regional cooperation model will be highlighted.

Online promotion through consumer participation will continue as well.

Gunwi-gun will hold a nationwide short-form video contest titled "Gunwi Apples Are Here!" through Sept. 30, using YouTube Shorts and Instagram Reels to build online interest in the collaborative products.

"Gunwi-gun accounts for about 80 percent of Daegu's apple output, making it a leading apple-producing region," Gunwi-gun Mayor Kim Jin-yeol said. "I hope this collaboration raises the value of Gunwi apples and becomes an opportunity for local farmers and businesses to grow together."