Last November, 7-Eleven's Strawberry Ade won the grand prize in the general food and beverage category at the 2023 Korea Food & Food Tech Awards. The award-winning product, '7-SELECT Master Strawberry Ade', features strawberries grown by Master Ryu Ji-bong of Bong Farm in Geochang. The leading domestic strawberry variety is Seolhyang, and these strawberries were recently grown under the seasoned expertise of Bong Farm, dedicated to strawberry farming for 27 years. The products include Seolhyang and Jukhyang varieties. In addition, Bong Farm produces strawberry jam using only homegrown strawberries and organic sugar, including a variety of fermented strawberry jam. These strawberries are grown in the Geochang region of South Gyeongsang Province, near Mt. Jiri, using environmentally friendly methods to ensure high quality in both sweetness and firmness. Ryu is recognized as a "New Intellectual Farmer," a strawberry master, and Korea's leading agricultural technology expert. The Ryu Ji-bong Master Strawberry Crispy Roll is a strawberry snack made with master strawberries and 21 kinds of grains. Bong Farm Strawberry Jam, made exclusively with Bong Farm strawberries and organic sugar, has a spot-on sweetness level suitable for all ages. Another product, Bong Farm Fermented Strawberry Jam, has a reduced sugar content, making it appealing to children while retaining its sweetness. The fermentation process imparts antioxidant benefits, promotes beauty, and aids in weight loss by adding saccharified liquid with anti-obesity effects. The farm has filed a patent application for a "low-sugar berry jam and its production method." The method makes it possible to consume complex sugars that increase calorie burning and help people lose weight. The addition of a saccharifying liquid lowers the sugar content while maintaining the flavor. The reduced sugar content allows for a higher intake of anthocyanins, a sulfur oxide found in berries. In 1988, at the age of 20, Ryu Ji-bong took the plunge into farming, as he foresaw the future value of strawberry farming, which is prized by children and women. Starting with a modest 300 square meters in 1997, he faced repeated setbacks. Challenges arose primarily due to unsuitable sunlight and soil conditions in his parents' mountain valley apple orchard. Despite a decade of dedication to strawberry farming, he saw no significant harvest. The decision to lease land presented similar challenges. Ryu Ji-bong became a pioneer in Geochang by adopting hydroponics, a factory-like production method. He then developed his unique cultivation techniques, which included seedlings, culture medium, and nutrient solution composition. To achieve this, he actively visited domestic strawberry farmers and drew inspiration from strawberry farmers using advanced technology in the Netherlands, Japan and Taiwan. His commitment to improvement is evident in the fact that he has devoted an average of 500 hours a year to training. In 2007, he delivered the first strawberries to a U.S. military base in Korea, and in 2008, he distributed strawberry farming technology to North Korea. He used waste wood from three years of shiitake mushroom cultivation to make compost enriched with beneficial bacteria to manage the soil on the strawberry farm. Finely chopped rice straw, known for its soil-enriching properties, was also incorporated. Various bacteria were cultured and applied directly to the soil using a microbial incubator. Ryu implemented a unique technique by mixing mano maple tree water and periodically feeding it to the strawberry roots to facilitate optimal nutrient absorption. He also introduced electrical conductivity (EC) and moisture control methods to increase sugar content. Technological advances made it possible to analyze the composition of groundwater, which allowed the electrical conductivity to be adjusted below average when formulating nutrient solutions. The incorporation of rice bran into the strawberry medium proved beneficial, improving root establishment and physical properties. To increase the sugar content, he ends hydration 1-2 hours earlier than other growers, around 2 pm. In winter, he reduces hydration by 50-70% compared to fall. In this way he increases the sugar content of his strawberries.

The modern people interest in health and their busy lifestyles, they are looking for easy meal replacements. The culture of consuming porridge is no longer just food for seniors or patients but is becoming a culture that combines health and convenience with the Home Meal Replacement (HMR) trend. Typical Korean porridge includes pumpkin porridge, red bean porridge, shrimp porridge, seafood porridge, and pine nut porridge, and this variety of products shows that Korean porridge culture has a high degree of diversity. A variety of Korean instant porridge products are available at Lazada Mall in Singapore. Porridge culture in particular is recognized as a staple in Asian cultures and Singaporeans enjoy a hot porridge called "congee" for breakfast. Singapore consumers who have a rich cultural background, are interested in Korean porridge, and it has received positive feedback from online stores. CJ CheilJedang, which has a presence in Singapore's Lazada Mall, has rebranded from "Bibigo Porridge" to "Hetbahn Soft Meal," focusing on the intrinsic value of rice and optimizing the texture of rice grains ideal for porridge. Particularly, the company thoroghly manages the harvesting, drying, and storage, and processing of rice in Korea, to ensure the best quality. Another beloved porridge brand, Bonjuk, managed by BONiF, reported an impressive annual revenue surpassing KRW 200 billion in 2019. Moving beyond the traditional perception that porridge is merely for the sick, the brand has broadened its appeal both domestically and abroad by introducing a range of flavors. Bonjuk satisfies many consumers with new flavors such as bulnak (fire spicy octopus) porridge, jjamppong (spicy seafood noodle) porridge, nakji (octopus) kimchi porridge, and yukgaejang (spicy beef soup) porridge. Notable reviews by consumers who have purchased these products on Lazada mall are: "It's fresh and tasty, and I would love to repurchase," "It's incredibly convenient to prepare and I want to try other flavors," and "It's filling and delicious, making it perfect for breakfast or a light dinner."