We have received the Presidential Citation for our contributions to promoting seafood consumption. As an award given to a company that has handled oysters and seafood for over 40 years—starting in 1976 as Dealer No. 33 at the Chungmu Branch of the Diving Fisheries Cooperative—all our employees find this recognition deeply meaningful.

The citation was awarded for our contributions to expanding seafood consumption. Looking back on our work, we have broadened the market by processing Tongyeong oysters into various forms, such as fresh, half-shell, and frozen oysters. In 2013, we introduced a fresh oyster traceability system to ensure consumer confidence. Beyond oysters, we have also distributed seafood such as scallops, mussels, Manila clams, and sea squirts, ensuring that more seafood from the South Coast reaches dining tables.

Receiving an award does not change our process. Tomorrow, we will continue to wash oysters with seawater drawn from 200m offshore, sort them in 7°C chilled seawater, and freeze them at temperatures below -35°C. However, this citation has reaffirmed that our responsibility is to create products that allow more people to enjoy oysters conveniently. Our preparation of processed foods, such as spicy salted oysters, simmered oysters, and gratins, is an extension of this mission.