Cauldron-shaped Rock, Jeongam

 

1 Introduction to Cauldron Rock.

Uiryeong Jeongam: A mysterious rock that resembles a pot lid and the legend of a rich man

A mysterious rock rises above the blue waves of Namgang River in Uiryeong-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do. It is called Jeongam (鼎巖), or Cauldron Rock, because it resembles a pot lid. This unique rock, firmly established in the gently flowing river, is not just a natural landscape, but also has a long history and interesting legend, captivating visitors.

2 A lid floating on the Namgang River, the unique appearance of Jeongam

At the Namgang River, which flows powerfully toward the southern coast, and passes through Uiryeong-gun, Jeongam, which stands tall in the middle of the river, has a strange shape that resembles the top of a cauldron, just like its name. 

The sedimentary rock, which has been eroded and polished by the river over a long period of time, fully reveals the mystery of nature. What is particularly noticeable are the three foot-shaped shapes hidden under the water. 

This creates the imagination that it is as if a giant cauldron is immersing its legs in the river, and adds to Jeongam’s unique charm.

3 The mysterious energy that calls for wealth, the legend of Jeongam

There is an interesting legend handed down about Jeongam since ancient times. It is said that a great rich man is born within an 8km radius of the cauldron rock. 

This legend seems to have been created by stimulating people’s imagination by combining the unique shape of Jeongam and the rich natural environment of the surrounding area. Even if it is just a story that has been handed down, the hearts of those who look at Jeongam and pray for wealth are no different now than they were in the past.

4 A place where you can feel the breath of history, Jeongamjin

Jeongam is not just a strange rock, but also a place with historical significance. The rock is located at Jeongamjin (鼎巖津), or ferry site, where General Gwak Jae-u defeated the Japanese during the Imjin War. If you walk along Jeongamgyo, an iron bridge that crosses the Namgang River from the sidewalk below the gate, you will not find any traces of the fierce battle at the time, but you can feel the bravery of our ancestors who tried to protect the country while looking at the leisurely flowing river.

5 Beautiful night view and nearby attractions

The route to Jeongam is not difficult. It is located about 10 minutes by car from Gunbuk IC on the Namhae Expressway, so it is easily accessible. If you climb the iron and sleeper stairs next to the gate, you can view Jeongamjin, which commemorates General Gwak Jae-u's exploits. In addition, beautiful lighting facilities are installed at Uiryeong Gate, so you can enjoy an even more splendid and magnificent night view at night. Jeongam, where you can reflect on its historical significance during the day and enjoy its beautiful night view at night, will provide an unforgettable experience for those visiting Uiryeong.

How to get to Sungnimsa Temple.

- Address: 15-2 Namgang-ro 8-gil, Uiryeong-eup, Uiryeong-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do

- Management: Uiryeong-gun Urban Regeneration and Urban Planning

- Contact: 055-570-3504

- Park Type: Cultural Park

- Park Area: 86,660m3

- Designation Announcement Date: 2005-07-12

- Management Agency Name: Uiryeong-gun Office, Gyeongsangnam-do

The scenery of Sungnimsa Temple.

Map

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Surrounding information

Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a Main Character

1 AI as a Science and Technology

  

AI is Artificial Intelligence.

We are already familiar with the name of the artificial intelligence AlphaGo, which won against Lee Sedol in Korea.

Nowadays, we have GPS, which measures the distance reflected by satellite radio waves from machines called compasses or azimuths that can tell the direction, but in ancient China, where Chiyou was fighting, they must have been bewildered by the mysterious object that automatically pointed south, the azimuth iron (指南鐵).

This azimuth iron was immediately incorporated into feng shui geography and developed into the name of the 佩鐵 (佩鐵).

It is truly amazing to see that things that were only thought of 10 or 20 years ago are now being realized one by one.

Among them, AI has been developed as a product of scientific and technological development and is gradually appearing in our daily lives. Isn't the role of AI to simply repeat or find the most suitable case among numerous cases in place of human intelligence?

Even in ancient times, there must have been people who anticipated and prepared for such situations, and Zhuge Liang's Eight Directions and Eobokpo can be viewed from this perspective.

Today's AI must have felt like a ghost's work (酬酌: exchanging drinks with ghosts) at that time.

2. AI viewed through Feng Shui

  

Feng Shui (風水) is a shortened form of Jangpungdeuksu (藏風得水), which means hiding the wind and obtaining water, and is said to have originated from the ancient Chinese book <Jin Nang Gyeong> published around the 4th century AD.

Along with physiognomy derived from the magic method, it is considered a major lineage of old oriental philosophy, and its lineage is still maintained.

Feng Shui initially focused on finding the ancestral grave site, but now it is changing in the direction of placing more emphasis on yang-taek, which is to find a good place for living, or a place to live.

Traditional yin-taek feng shui is centered on the theory of water type that examines the shape of nature, the theory of shape and energy that examines the direction of Yong-hyeol-sa-su-hyang such as Ju-san, An-san, and Gwa-hyeop, and the theory of yi-gi that examines the direction with a patch, but now it is different in that it targets living people including buildings, factories, apartments, and houses in the countryside.

Feng Shui is also used as a way to improve fortune, but in any case, if the yin-taek such as the graveyard and the yang-taek such as the office and living space are not good, it should be changed to Bi-bo feng shui.

For example, if you are building a house in the countryside, even after considering fortune, taste, etc., if the surrounding mountain terrain is not suitable (such as a mountain peak targeting the country house), it is necessary to reduce it through a secret protection.

Since the present reality is more important than the yin house (graveyard) feng shui, the yang house feng shui is more important.

You can tell by looking at where the headquarters of the four major conglomerates in Korea are located, and you can also tell by looking at their orientation relative to royal tombs and palaces.

In the past, Samsung Electronics headquarters in Taepyeong-ro and Hyundai in Gye-dong (Hyundai was divided into Hyundai Motor Company and Hyundai Corporation), and Kia Motors, a younger sibling of Hyundai Motor Company, built their headquarters in Yangjae-dong, and LG built a new headquarters in southern Seoul.

Everyone is aware of the importance of feng shui and has prepared for it. When we build a hanok, we hold a grand topping-out ceremony, write the topping-out date and inscription, and place turtles or dragons. These are all a kind of secret protection feng shui.

3. AI from a human nature perspective

 

When the era of ubiquitous came in the early 2000s, there was a huge craze, but even if you ask anyone today, not many people remember the term exactly.

The current Klaus Schwab's 4th Industrial Revolution and its means also seem to have gradually faded from interest due to the COVID-19 issue.

In response, people who like to talk have started to create new terms to reveal themselves, such as virtual currency, blockchain, NFT, artificial intelligence, and IoT.

If I, a worm who is ignorant of new devices or theories, am mentioning these terms, the industry must have gotten on track to some extent.

However, nothing in the world is permanent. It is always changing, and who feels the change and how they prepare for it determines the fortune.

There are many terms flying around, but only a very small number of people benefit from them, and even then, they are probably those who have prepared for a long time.

The Earth is made up of 7 billion people, and it goes without saying that there are all kinds of people.

No matter how much computers claim that there is no reality through virtual worlds, they have evolved from AR and VR to expand the virtual world to XR, and now we have come to this world of metaverse.

In the Book of Changes, ghosts, or souls, and white are seen as yin, and humans as yang, so virtual environments through real computers or smartphones cannot surpass human intellectual abilities.

Now, it seems that artificial intelligence is going beyond some simple intellectual abilities and replacing high-level human activities, but it does not seem easy.

Even if artificial intelligence technology develops through CNN, DNN, and perceptron, the emergence of Terminator's Skynet is still far away.

Just as water has homeostasis and tries to return to its original shape and properties, I hope that even if science and technology develop, human nature will not be forgotten and will be preserved, even if it is not completely restored to its original state.

   

Yutnori and Yutjeom Culture

"Experience Korea’s vibrant Yutnori tradition—an engaging folk game fostering teamwork and strategy. Plus, discover Yut divination, a fascinating way to predict the year ahead based on ancient hexagrams. Dive into the cultural significance behind this beloved pastime!"

In Korea, there are many games that people play together at the beginning of the new year, and among them, I will introduce Yutnori.

1 Yut nori

It is usually played from the first day of the first lunar month to the first full moon of the new year.

In modern times, it is the most well-known folk game along with tug-of-war, and unlike other folk games, it has many elements similar to modern board games.

It is also the most popular game because it is good for several people to form teams, put their heads together, cooperate, and promote harmony, and it has the advantage of a moderate play time.

There are round and square boards, but since the 1990s, when factory-made Yut boards were mass-produced, square Yut boards, which are better for mass production than round ones in terms of printing and fabric processing, have become widespread.

Before that, round Yut boards were used more often.

In fact, if you look at the Yut board patterns left as petroglyphs on dolmens and stone pillars, many of them are round.

To enjoy this game, you need a board drawn on paper and four flat, round wooden sticks (Yut) with one side flattened.

The size doesn't matter, and you don't have to use wooden sticks, as long as one side is round and the other side is flat.

Good examples include chestnuts, half a soybean, or red bean. It doesn't matter if the front and back are clearly distinguishable. The number of participants required for the game is theoretically limited to two or more, but if you do that, it will be too confusing, so if it's an individual game, about three to four people are the most appropriate.

There is an individual game, but usually several people split into teams and play. It can be said that it is a game where team and individual settings are free.

2 Introduction to Yut divination

This Yut divination is a traditional way to see your fortune for the new year. Yut fortune telling, or fortune telling, is a custom practiced nationwide, and is sometimes done individually or in groups.

Yut fortune telling on New Year's Day is a method of predicting one's fortune for the year based on the hexagrams drawn from the Yut three times.

The number of cases that come out of the Yut is divided into heads and tails, and the word drawn from the first throw is considered the upper hexagram, the word drawn from the second throw is considered the middle hexagram, and the word drawn from the third throw is considered the lower hexagram, making 64 hexagrams from hexagram 111 to 444.

The fortune for the year is predicted by reading the corresponding divination for each.

Yut words are Do, Gae, Geol, Yut, and Mo, but since Yut and Mo are played with the same hexagrams, there are four hexagrams.

When getting the hexagrams, Do is considered 1, Gae is considered 2, Geol is considered 3, and Yut and Mo are considered 4.

For example, if you roll Yut three times and all of them come out as ‘do·do·do’, you get the fortune of 111.

The fortune of this hexagram is “A young child meets a kind mother.”

If a young child meets his mother, he will be happy because he will receive his mother’s love, so this is a good hexagram.

Also, if you roll Yut three times and all of them come out as ‘do·mo·do’, this means “The tree has no roots.”

It is natural for a tree without roots to dry up and die, so this is a bad hexagram.

The rapidly changing modern society is full of unpredictable events and complex problems. Technology has advanced rapidly, but ironically, anxiety about the future is growing.

3. The modern meaning of Yut divination

Of course, we should be wary of fortune-telling that blindly predicts the future without scientific verification.

However, we need to remember that human history ultimately begins with people and ends with people. No matter how excellent a system or technology is, it is ultimately humans who operate it, and their judgment and choices determine the results.

Red and White Cloud Cheonwansan (Mountain)

 1 Introduction to Cheonwansan (Mountain)

One of the five famous mountains in Honam, Cheonwansan is named for its oddly shaped rocks that rise up in various shapes, like a crown of a king decorated with jewels.

It is a 723m mountain on the border of Gwansan-eup and Daedeok-eup, and although it is not very high, the entire mountain is made of rocks, and each peak seems to pierce the sky, adding to its grandeur.

When you climb the mountain, the southern coast of Dadohae unfolds like an oriental painting, and each season has a different beautiful appearance.

In spring, the fresh green leaves and red camellia forests are especially beautiful, and in fall, the vast fields of reeds are especially beautiful.

The silvery reeds dancing in harmony with the oddly shaped rocks attract many hikers to Cheonwansan in fall.

The 1,320,000㎡ (400,000 pyeong) of reed plains from Cheonwansan Yeondae Peak to Hwanheedae and the scenery of Hallasan and Dadohae seen through the reeds whispering about autumn give a faint romantic feeling to everyone.

Every year in October, the Cheonwansan Reed Festival is held to coincide with the peak of reeds, and the waves of reeds sing of autumn with the sun and moon from early to late October.

Cheonwansan Natural Recreation Forest, which boasts of natural resources such as camellia trees and zelkova trees, offers accommodations and camping, and various forest culture education programs such as forest commentary, camellia girl, shiitake mushroom observation, and handkerchief dyeing experience are also operated.

2 How to get to Cheonwansan (Mountain)

- Inquiries and information: 061-867-6974

- Website: https://www.foresttrip.go.kr

- Address: 842-1150 Chilgwan-ro, Gwansan-eup, Jangheung-gun, Jeollanam-do

- Hours of operation: 09:00~18:00

- Closed: Every Tuesday

- Parking: Available

- Experience information: Forest experience program / woodworking experience classroom program, etc.

3 The scenery of Cheonwansan (Mountain)

4 Map

5 Surrounding information

 - Cheonggwansa Temple

 - Cheonggwansan Literature Park

 - Jangheung's Eokbulsan (510m)

  

Steamed or baked dumplings

Explore the fascinating history and diverse world of Korean dumplings (mandu), from their origins in ancient China to popular varieties like steamed, pan-fried, kimchi, and meat. Discover regional favorites and legal classifications of this beloved dish."

The charm of steaming hot and eating golden brown, the story of dumplings

1. Origin of dumplings

The Chinese characters for dumplings are '蠻頭(mandu)', and there are various theories about the origin of dumplings. It is said that it means the head of a Nanman (a southern Chinese people).

There is a theory that it originated from the Three Kingdoms period when Zhuge Liang, who conquered the Nanman, made a human head and held a ritual to comfort the dead soldiers.

The well-known story 'Chiljong Chilgeum (七縱七擒)' means that Zhuge Liang captured the Nanman king Meng Huo seven times and released him seven times, making him truly submit from the bottom of his heart.

2 Types of Dumplings

Depending on the filling, dumplings are divided into meat dumplings, kimchi dumplings, vegetable dumplings, etc., and depending on the shape, there are crescent-shaped dumplings, large king dumplings, thin and wide flat dumplings, rolled round dumplings, and square-shaped pyeonsu.

Depending on the cooking method, there are steamed dumplings, fried dumplings, boiled dumplings, and dumpling soup.

There are Chinese baozi, Japanese gyoza, and Hong Kong dim sum (點心) as types of dumplings.

The flat dumplings that we tried in Dongseong-ro, Jung-gu, Daegu have now spread nationwide and are now a food that can be eaten anywhere.

3 History of Dumplings in Korea

The dumplings that we enjoy eating today are known to have a short history. This dish, made by cutting noodles and various vegetables into small pieces, wrapping them in flour skin, and steaming or grilling them, has now become a popular menu for many people.

When ordering jajangmyeon at a Chinese restaurant, kind owners sometimes send fried dumplings as a service, but this is an independent product that will cause bleeding, and it can be problematic if you ask too much.

4 Comparison of Songpyeon and Mandu

In songpyeon and our own rice cakes, there are rice cakes with fillings, but mandu is made with various fillings such as vegetables, and it can be said that it is different from making a single ingredient.

Mandu contains noodles, and it may be an exaggerated analogy to say that a mandu without noodles is like a steamed bun without red bean paste, but it emphasizes the importance of noodles as an ingredient.

5 Laws related to mandu and mandu skin

Mandu skin and finished mandu products are different types of food, but the Food Sanitation Act stipulates that mandu is classified as an instant food.

(1) Dumplings are made by molding a mixture of meat, vegetables, etc. into dumpling skin.

(2) Dumpling skin is made by kneading and molding grain flour or starch as the main ingredient, and is manufactured so that dumplings can be made by filling them with meat.

Just as tteokguk tteok is used in ramen, which is the main dish, dumpling soup also has tteokguk tteok as a side ingredient. When eating dumpling soup, if the filling bursts, the hot broth can burn your mouth.

6 Future Outlook

Just as frozen kimbap has become popular in the United States and other parts of the world, dumplings are mostly sold frozen for hygiene reasons, so it seems that they will soon become popular overseas as well.

There was a garbage dumpling incident in the past, but now that they are being made hygienically in specialized factories, there is no need to worry too much.

 

Various Risk Factors in Food Companies

Recently, a famous Korean dairy company has been in a major crisis due to CEO risk, causing much social controversy. This incident has made us think again about risk management in food companies, especially ‘CEO risk’.

1 Who owns the milk?

Milk is originally food for calves. Humans eat this cow’s milk as a substitute, but it has various implications in that it is ultimately an act of taking resources from life. Calves have a rennet enzyme in their stomachs shortly after they are born, and when they drink their mother’s milk, it coagulates it and slowly digests it. In the past, this enzyme was extracted from the stomachs of male calves and used to make cheese, but it is now being replaced by an industrially synthesized method.

It is said that the history of cheese began with milk that coagulated accidentally in a camel skin bag in the desert, and it developed mainly in Europe, and in some regions such as Imsil in Korea.

2 Milk and the Future

Winston Churchill, the British Prime Minister during World War II, once said, "The best investment for the future is to feed your children milk." This shows how important the health and nutrition of the next generation is for the long-term prosperity of the country.

However, today, milk consumption is decreasing due to lactose intolerance, declining birth rates, an increase in the vegan and vegetarian population, and an increase in diabetes caused by the sugar contained in lactose. In addition, milk from the farm is transported to the processing company through refrigerated distribution, and in this process, dairy farmers suffer from the double burden of lack of price negotiation power and decreased profitability.

<Camembert Cheese>

3 CEO Risk and Corporate Fate

In the sensitive and delicate food industry like milk, 'trust' is the most important asset. However, a recent careless remark by the CEO of a certain dairy processing company on a socially sensitive issue led to a boycott by consumers, and the aftermath led to decreased sales, a drop in stock price, and damage to brand value.

This is not a simple mistake, but a typical case of ‘CEO risk’ that shakes the entire company.

4 CEO risk cases around the world

Uber – Travis Kalanick

CEO Kalanick, who was famous for his aggressive growth strategy, was at the center of various controversies such as inappropriate treatment of employees, covering up internal sexual harassment, and conflicts with the taxi industry. Ultimately, these leadership issues caused serious damage to the brand image, and he had to step down as CEO.

Papa John’s – John Schnatter

As the founder, he was criticized by public opinion for his racist remarks, which caused his image and brand trust to plummet. He was eventually removed from the board of directors, and the company had to carry out a major brand renewal.

Tesla – Elon Musk

Musk is a genius entrepreneur, but his unexpected remarks on social media (such as his remarks on delisting Tesla) have caused conflicts with investors and the SEC (U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission) on several occasions. This resulted in a fine of hundreds of millions of dollars and a temporary restriction on the CEO role.

These cases clearly show how the words and actions of a single person can affect a company worth trillions of won.

It clearly shows how not only the personal problems of the CEO, but also poor management judgment and lack of ethical awareness can cause great risks to the company. Therefore, companies must make multifaceted efforts to prevent and manage CEO risks.

5 Interpretation from an Eastern humanistic perspective

In the East, corporate leaders are not simply viewed as 'operators', but as beings who carry out the will of heaven (天命). As can be seen in the Feng Shui concepts of 'talsingong (奪神功)' and 'gaecheonmyeong (開天命)', leaders have the responsibility to 'take what belongs to others and make it their own, but the process must be just and in accordance with the laws of heaven.'

The Feng Shui perspective that interprets milk as 'taking what belongs to others and making it their own' is interesting. This may be a contrast to the '義(義)' of ants moving in groups or the '봉(蜂)' of bees serving with devotion.

6 In conclusion

A company is a community responsible for the livelihood of numerous employees and their families. Considering the influence that a single word or action of a CEO can have on the entire organization, a more cautious and responsible attitude is required. This is especially true in an industry where trust is vital, such as the food industry.

If we examine the CEO risk of a recently controversial dairy company from an oriental humanities perspective, we can see that the CEO, as a representative figure of the company, can determine the fate of the company with his or her words and actions. Therefore, we must be wary that an absurd mistake by an arbitrary management team can lead to an irreparable crisis. In addition, companies must keep in mind that they are responsible for the livelihood of numerous employees and their families, and they must strive to be cautious in their words and actions and manage their positive media reputation. The importance of fostering middle managers cannot be overlooked.

A CEO is not just a title; his or her personality and philosophy influence the entire organization. Therefore, fostering middle managers and a healthy check and balance system within the organization are essential. Autocratic leadership can temporarily grow a company, but it can ultimately be a factor that threatens sustainability.

Even in a 'glass of milk', ethics, life, and social responsibility are melted. And we must not forget that at the center of it all is always the person, the CEO.

The Secret to the Popularity of Samyang Buldak Bokkeum Myeon

Samyang Foods Buldak Bokkeum Myeon, which has captured the taste buds of people around the world with its spicy flavor! 

Let’s take a look at the secret to the popularity of Buldak Bokkeum Myeon, which is Samyang’s representative product leading the domestic ramen market along with Nongshim and has established itself as an icon of K-food, and its export success story. 

We analyze the changes that ramen has brought to the national food culture and the power of spicy marketing.

1. Introduction to Samyang Foods

Samyang Foods, along with Nongshim, are the two leading domestic ramen companies. Nongshim, which briefly gained an advantage due to the beef tallow scandal 20 years ago, is still maintaining its number one position, but Samyang Ramen, which freed the nation from Chairman Jeon Joong-yoon’s national hunger, is considered to have made a significant contribution.

There is no doubt that ramen has brought about a transformation in the national food culture at a time when rice consumption has surpassed meat consumption.

In Arabia, when we call our country Daeshikguk (大食), meaning a country that eats a lot of rice, the picture of eating gobongbap has now become a vague truth of the past.

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2. The secret to popularity

The world's favor for spicy food

In Korea, there is not only kimchi and samgyeopsal, but also frozen gimbap, which recently became a sensation in the Americas thanks to the Korean Wave, and there are endless food items that can capture the taste buds of people around the world, such as seaweed, yakgwa, and hangwa.

The spiciness of Korean food is not limited to a specific item, but it can be seen in the soup and stew culture that we still eat salty and spicy food. Products that are popular overseas, such as Buldak Bokkeum Myeon, are more likely to be due to the effect of viral marketing at the right time rather than the havarone pepper or high Scoville index.

3. Export Success Factors

The spicy noodles must have contributed significantly to the favorable trend of food exports exceeding $100 million for the first time in 2024. I believe that the unique spicy taste, convenience, and various recipe usability of Buldak Bokkeum Myeon contributed significantly to the export of $100 million.

4 Production Plant

Samyang Ramen has the largest Gumi plant in Korea, and this Buldak Bokkeum Myeon is said to be produced at the Hoengseong plant. It produces clean and safe ramen through automated quality control of a verified production line, and contributes to the local economy of Hoengseong and Wonju.

5. Spicy Revolution

Ramen lovers can enjoy the pleasure of eating with the release of various ramen, but they should be prepared for heartburn due to consuming Janichin.

It is necessary to improve the diet so that Buldak Bokkeum Myeon can be enjoyed healthily by eating it with vegetables and reducing sodium intake.

   

Delivering fresh agricultural products safely and fresh to consumers

 Simple packaging hygiene of fresh produce (fruit): Delivering it safely and fresh to consumers

Since fruits are often consumed raw without going through a heating process, hygiene management is the top priority for ensuring safety. 

Thorough hygiene management is necessary from the production stage to the consumer's table, and this is an important issue directly related to the health of consumers.

Fresh produce refers to produce grown in fields, mountains, and greenhouses, and is delivered to consumers after minimal processing. 

On the other hand, processed foods are those that have undergone physical and chemical processes to transform these fresh produce. 

Of course, the dictionary and legal definitions may differ, but generally, food encompasses all substances that people consume and play a physiological or functional role.

The scope of fresh produce is very broad. It includes a variety of items, from peppers and chives sold at stalls in traditional markets to cabbage for kimchi grown under contract with specialized distributors, and most of them are exempt from value-added tax. 

However, it should be noted that produce that has undergone simple processing such as washing and cutting (e.g., cut pineapple) may be classified as processed foods.

Recently, I visited a company that sells various domestic and imported fruits such as apples, pears, bananas, cherry tomatoes, apple mangoes, and avocados in small portions to conduct a quality audit. 

This audit, which was conducted at the request of a distributor, was aimed at checking the overall quality management system of the supplier and eliminating potential and actual threats that may occur at the final consumption stage in advance.

The workshop was located in an apartment-type factory, and it was simply going through a process of sorting the raw fruits that were received in paper boxes or P boxes, packaging them in PET containers or PP vinyl according to weight or quantity, and shipping them. 

The following are potential hazards that may occur during this simple packaging process:

Biological threats: Possibility of food poisoning due to microbial contamination

 1. Chemical threats: Possibility of contamination due to inappropriate use of residual pesticides, detergents, etc.

 2. Physical threats: Appearance damage and decline in commercial value due to bruising, crushing, bruising, etc.

 3. Quality decline: Spoilage due to excessive ripening, decline in freshness due to long-term storage, mold growth in tangerines, browning or black spots in bananas, etc.

 4. Others: Changes in taste due to decreased sugar content, decline in commercial value due to pests such as fruit flies

Fresh agricultural products are generally not classified as a type of product under the Food Sanitation Act, so they are not subject to HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points). 

However, they can be subject to certification systems related to agricultural product quality and safety, such as GAP (Good Agricultural Practices), eco-friendly agricultural product certification, and Global GAP. 

Therefore, it is more important to consider related laws and regulations, such as the Agricultural Product Quality Control Act and the Act on Promotion of Eco-friendly Agriculture and Fisheries and Management and Support of Organic Food, etc., rather than the Food Sanitation Act.

In particular, for organic or pesticide-free agricultural products, the validity period of the relevant performance certificate and certificate must be carefully checked. In the case of GAP-certified agricultural products, it is important to thoroughly understand whether the history tracking system is being properly operated.

The inspection criteria for fruit receipt are partially presented in the Rural Development Administration's GAP standards, and can be set by referring to the lower regulations of the Agricultural Products Quality Management Act or the standards held by agricultural cooperatives, etc. 

Systematic inspection criteria are essential for blocking the distribution of defective fruits from the initial stage and providing only high-quality fruits to consumers.

Furthermore, the following additional considerations are suggested to strengthen hygiene management during the simple packaging process.

Workplace environment management: Maintain workplace cleanliness, regular disinfection, and appropriate temperature and humidity management

 1. Worker hygiene education: Comply with personal hygiene rules (hand washing, wearing sanitary clothing, etc.), regularly conduct food safety education

 2. Packaging material management: Use and store sanitary packaging materials, prevent contamination during the packaging process

 3. Strengthen selection and quality inspection: Establish thorough selection criteria for blemishes, rot, pests, etc., and train quality inspection personnel

 4. Storage and transportation management: Maintain appropriate temperature and humidity, prevent shock during transportation

In conclusion, the simple packaging process of fresh produce, fruits, has a great impact on the safety and satisfaction of end consumers. 

In addition to complying with relevant laws and certification systems, hygiene management should be strengthened in various aspects such as the work environment, worker hygiene, and packaging material management. 

This will enable us to provide safer and fresher fruits to consumers.

     

Seolleongtang and Kongnamulguk filled with memories

Koreans' favorite foods are Seolleongtang and Kongnamulguk. 

This is the same reason why our kimchi is different from China's pao cai and Germany's sauerkraut.

Among our foods, soup, stew, and jjigae are also different.

Generally, if there is little water and a lot of garnish, it is called jjigae, and the opposite is called tang.

In the past, Seolleongtang was called Seonnongtang, which meant soup eaten when farming, the basis of life, was done. It is similar to the word used to describe the rituals performed at today's Seonnongdan.

During the Joseon Dynasty, the king himself farmed to encourage farming, and the land at that time was called Jeokjeon, and the queen also raised silkworms to weave in order to set an example for women. The current Jamsil is said to be that area.

Dogani means knee, and when we say doganitang, it is made by roasting the knee of a cow, and it is said that people with bad joints often eat it because it contains a lot of collagen, but since the molecules are large, collagen eaten as food cannot be directly digested and reach the elbows or knees, so it does not affect them.

In the past, people used to drink bean sprout soup, which is said to contain a lot of asparagine, as a hangover cure after drinking, and in the middle of summer, they made bean sprout cold soup to make it refreshing.

If you go to Jeonju, Jeollabuk-do, there is a specialty food called hoe-gook near the Hanok Village. At first, I thought it was a hoe from the farming tool shovel and hoe, but it is a type of bean sprout soup with a refreshing taste.

It was named hoe-gook because it looks like a hoe, but I don't know why it is called hoe-gook in English.

Here, if you have a glass of traditional liquor called moju, which is a beverage with an alcohol content of less than 5%, you will feel even better.

Oxtail gomtang and sagol soup should also be distinguished. Sagol is a dish that is passed around among the population because when a middle-aged couple's wife leaves home for a few days on a trip or something, she is worried about the husband's remaining meals and cooks a pot to take home.

Oxtail gomtang is said to be good for people with bad backs, and if you go to Naju, Jeollanam-do, there is a Naju gomtang restaurant where you can enjoy a clear soup.

   

Process Management of Rice Processing Plants

Fresh agricultural products are edible ingredients for people, but most are used as raw materials for food.

Therefore, they must be handled fresh and hygienically.

In Korea, agricultural and livestock processing facilities can be classified as follows using abbreviations:

- APC (Agriculture Processing Center): Fresh Agricultural Products Processing Plant

- EPC (Egg Processing Center): Egg Processing Plant

- LPC (Livestock Processing Center): Livestock Products Processing Plant

- RPC (Rice Processing Center): Rice Processing Plant

​Among these, let's think about the process, safety, and hygiene management of rice processing plants.

The following is the content of the process in the quality control of rice processing plants.

   

<Rice polisher machine>          <Stone milling machine> 

1. The supplied grains must be labeled with the product name, country of origin, farm, purchaser (producer), weight, and quantity, and unlabeled grains must be marked for return and stored separately.

2. Records of pesticides or chemicals used for received grains must be kept.

(User, chemical name, spray amount, spray date, pest name, total number of sprays, last spray date before harvest or shipment)

3. Upon receipt, the criteria for receipt of raw grains by item, such as characteristics, odor, moisture, and foreign matter, must be established and inspection conducted.

4. When using freshness-preserving agents, fumigants, etc., all chemicals must comply with safety use standards, only officially approved chemicals must be used, and records of all matters must be maintained. 

(Grain name, chemical name, treatment date, treatment amount, user, etc.)

5. A receipt and payment ledger or equivalent document must be prepared and stored to manage the receipt and shipment status of grains.

6. A stone separator and metal sorter must be equipped to prevent the mixing of foreign substances, and dust collection equipment must be operated in the workplace.

7. After the sorter, appropriate measures such as sealing and sealing must be taken for pest control/protection.

8 The difference between the indicated amount of weight, capacity, etc. and the actual amount must be managed within the allowable error range.

9 A receipt and payment ledger or equivalent document must be prepared and stored to manage production, work record documents, and product receipt and shipment status.