15-year bean sprout venture builds shared-growth model
Partners to jointly pursue broader welfare programs for people with developmental disabilities
![Pulmuone CEO Lee Woo-bong (left) and Woori Village Director Father Choi Su-jae pose for a photo after signing a new MOU on comprehensive welfare cooperation for people with developmental disabilities at a 15th-anniversary ceremony held at Ganghwado Woori Village in Incheon on Wednesday. [Pulmuone]](https://wimg.heraldcorp.com/news/cms/2026/10/15/news-p.v1.20261015.d49b24189df4477ea00e7e4445d91aaa_P1.jpg)
Pulmuone announced Thursday that it has signed a new MOU with Ganghwado Woori Village in Incheon on promoting welfare and mutual cooperation for people with developmental disabilities, marking the 15th anniversary of the two organizations' partnership on economic self-reliance for such individuals.
Pulmuone held a ceremony Wednesday to mark the occasion, with Pulmuone CEO Lee Woo-bong, Archbishop Kim Sung-su and Ganghwa-gun County Governor Park Yong-cheol among those in attendance. The event included the presentation of appreciation plaques to former Director Lee Dae-sung, current Director Father Choi Su-jae and CEO Lee, followed by a luncheon prepared by Pulmuone chefs.
Pulmuone and Woori Village first signed an MOU in 2011 and have since collaborated on bean sprout manufacturing and retail to help people with developmental disabilities achieve economic independence. The partnership has resulted in the cumulative sale of approximately 10 million packs of bean sprouts.
After a fire at the bean sprout facility in 2019, the two organizations built a customized smart factory and automated production system tailored to workers with developmental disabilities. Daily output doubled as a result, from 1.5 tons to 3 tons.
With the 15th anniversary as a turning point, Pulmuone said it would expand the relationship beyond its existing focus on the bean sprout business to broader welfare cooperation aimed at improving the quality of life for people with developmental disabilities.
The partners plan to jointly pursue initiatives including health and nutrition education, job creation and self-reliance support, employee volunteer activities and community-sharing programs, as well as projects to realize social value.
"Going forward, we will work even harder — not only to ensure the stable operation of the bean sprout business, but also to promote the health and welfare of Woori Village residents and to support job creation and self-reliance," CEO Lee said.
spa@heraldcorp.com
