LG CNS, Hanmi Yanghang, OMO build insect industry complex in Chuncheon

LG CNS, Hanmi Yanghang and OMO have built an insect industry complex in Chuncheon.

Gangwon Province and the city of Chuncheon announced Wednesday that they signed an MOU with the three companies to activate the Gangwon-Chuncheon insect industry hub complex and promote industrial cooperation.

The completion ceremony for the Gangwon-Chuncheon insect industry hub complex was held Tuesday at 160 Joyang-gil, Dongsan-myeon, Chuncheon.

Under the agreement, LG CNS will cooperate on AI-based automation of insect breeding and processing, the establishment of a smart factory, and the upgrade of standardization and retail platforms.

Hanmi Yanghang will work to secure a stable supply of insect-derived raw materials produced at the hub complex, while advancing research and development of green biotech products and standardizing production processes.

OMO, a company specializing in edible insect materials, will contribute to product development using insect raw materials, diversify products and expand sales channels both at home and abroad.

Through this corporate cooperation, Chuncheon plans to expand the insect industry beyond future foods and alternative protein into high-value sectors, centered on the hub complex. These sectors include functional materials, biomaterials and eco-friendly agricultural inputs. The city also aims to pursue convergence with AI, data and food tech.

The insect industry hub complex was selected for a public project by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs in 2023, and construction broke ground in July 2025.

With a total project cost of 20 billion won ($14.9 million), the complex established an industrial base spanning the entire insect value chain — from production to processing, research and retail. Facilities include a state-of-the-art smart breeding facility, a processing facility for high-quality insect protein raw materials and a research and development facility for eco-friendly biomaterials. Support facilities for retail and logistics round out the complex.

The complex introduced an ICT-based automated breeding system that precisely controls temperature, humidity and other breeding conditions to boost productivity and quality. It also built standardized processing lines for edible and medicinal insects. This laid the groundwork for the stable production and commercialization of insect raw materials such as high-quality protein powder and oil.

"Starting today, this site becomes the central foundation of Chuncheon's insect industry, connecting production and research with processing and commercialization," Chuncheon Mayor Yuk Dong-han said. "We will build an industrial ecosystem where farmers can stably produce raw materials, companies and research institutions can develop new technologies and products, and the results can flow into the market." He added, "We will make sure the insect industry becomes a new source of income for farmers, a growth opportunity for companies, and a path to entrepreneurship and jobs for young people, and Chuncheon will build a solid foundation for that to happen."

Chuncheon is recruiting tenants for a leased insect smart farm facility. The facility is designed to lower the initial cost burden for young farmers, returning farmers and new entrants looking to move into the insect industry. Applications will be accepted through Monday, and farms selected through document screening and interviews will be granted a two-year lease on the smart farm.