Natural Cook, a leading South Korean potato processing company known for its “Potato Ongsimi” products, currently purchases approximately 2,000 tons of potatoes annually. However, CEO Sung Ji-yong has highlighted persistent challenges with inconsistent quality and post-harvest spoilage due to untimely harvesting. To address these issues, the company plans to establish its own supply system by directly cultivating potatoes. Leveraging experience from contract farming on 200,000 pyeong (approx. 660,000 m²) the year before last and 180,000 pyeong last year, Natural Cook has approached the Korea Rural Community Corporation (KRC) to lease agricultural land. By controlling planting and harvest schedules, the company aims to produce uniformly high-quality potatoes that meet its manufacturing standards. Additionally, Natural Cook announced ambitious plans to develop a 5,000 pyeong site in Yeonpung-myeon, relocating its subsidiary “Natural Farm” with a storage facility capable of holding over 3,500 tons of potatoes, positioning it as a landmark for Goesan County.
However, KRC Goesan-Jeungpyeong Branch Manager Park Jae-woo explained that current regulations prioritize supplying acquired and reserved farmland to young successor farmers, the 2030 generation, returning farmers, and new entrants to agriculture. As an agricultural corporation, Natural Cook cannot directly lease such land under existing rules. Furthermore, virtually no consolidated farmland remains available through lease consignment or purchase reserve programs. Despite these challenges, both parties have committed to finding collaborative solutions. Park pledged to actively explore ways for Natural Cook to meet eligibility criteria—such as qualifying as young successor farmers—to acquire land, while supporting the company’s potato supply stability. Both Natural Cook and KRC will continue dialogue to advance the potato industry and expand the agricultural production base in Goesan region.
