First Official Commemoration Ceremony of 'Hanwoo Day' Held at the National Assembly… Renewing a Century-Long Commitment

For the first time in the history of the Korean beef (Hanwoo) industry, the official commemoration event honoring 'Hanwoo Day' as a legally designated national memorial day was held successfully at the National Assembly. The National Hanwoo Association held a ceremony on October 30, 2026, at the plaza in front of the Communication Hall of the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, to celebrate the designation of 'Hanwoo Day' as a legal memorial day and to reaffirm their commitment to a leap forward toward a new century ¹. This event was organized to widely publicize that November 1 has been officially designated as a legal memorial day following the enforcement of the Hanwoo Act ².

This event was filled with meaningful moments that went beyond a simple celebration, sharing the pride of Hanwoo farmers and gratitude toward the public. Attendees reflected on the symbolic significance of 'Hanwoo Day' and explored ways for sustainable development of the Hanwoo industry and win-win cooperation with consumers.

The Significance of Designating November 1 as 'Hanwoo Day' and the Role of the Hanwoo Act

November 1, 'Hanwoo Day', contains the special numerical significance symbolizing the taste and value of Hanwoo. It was adopted as the memorial day because it is a date where the number 1, representing "best," "first," and "top," appears three times, and because the Han character for 'cow (U)' contains the character for 'one (Il)' three times, implying that "Hanwoo tastes the best" ³.

Such 'Hanwoo Day' has been operated as an annual consumption promotion campaign centered on the Hanwoo Self-Reliance Fund since 2008, but with the enforcement of the Hanwoo Act, it earned the honor of being upgraded to an official legal memorial day commemorated by the entire nation ¹, ⁴. In his commemorative speech, Min Kyung-chun, President of the National Hanwoo Association, emphasized that this change is the fruit of the efforts by Hanwoo farmers that began as the 'Hanwoo Thanksgiving Festival' ². This demonstrates that the Hanwoo industry has established itself as a significant industry recognized by the state and the public, beyond being merely a livestock product.

Overview of the First Official Ceremony Held at the National Assembly Communication Hall

The first official ceremony, held at the symbolic location of the plaza in front of the National Assembly Communication Hall, was graced by the extensive participation of key figures in the Hanwoo industry and policymakers. Key figures such as Park Jung-hoon, Director-General of the Food Policy Office at the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs; Son Sol, a lawmaker from the Progressive Party; and Park Su-jin, President of the Livestock Products Quality Evaluation Service, attended the event ¹. Additionally, about 100 attendees, including executives from the National Hanwoo Association and representatives from various livestock-related organizations, joined to celebrate the new leap forward of the Hanwoo industry ¹.

The 'Promise of Hanwoo's Future' Performance and a Platform for Public Communication

The highlight of the ceremony was the 'Promise of Hanwoo's Future' performance, where all attendees united as one. During this segment, attendees and Hanwoo farmers performed a puzzle performance, holding up keywords from the Hanwoo Act to complete a large Hanwoo silhouette ². This performance visually expressed the strong determination of Hanwoo farmers and policymakers, united in one mind, to create a new 100 years for the Hanwoo industry ¹.

In his commemorative speech, Association President Min Kyung-chun pledged to do his utmost to ensure that the Hanwoo industry, which has grown with the interest and support of the public, could open a new 100 years on the occasion of its first legal memorial day ². He also took time to directly communicate with the public by personally sharing Hanwoo cube steaks with citizens who participated in the event, brightening the atmosphere ¹.

Large-Scale Consumption Promotion Campaign Linked to On-Site Sharing

On the day of the ceremony, 300 servings of Hanwoo cube steaks were provided for free at the event venue to encourage public participation, and a discount sale of Hanwoo beef was also held to mark the occasion ². The enthusiasm on site naturally transitioned into a nationwide large-scale consumption promotion event during the 'Hanwoo Day' week.

In particular, the National Hanwoo Association announced it would hold the 'Hanwoo Festa in Cheonggye Plaza' at and around Cheonggye Plaza in Seoul for two days, from November 3 to 4, selling Hanwoo at prices discounted up to 50% and conducting various experiential events ². Linked discount events are also planned at local Nonghyup (agricultural cooperatives) stores nationwide ⁴. Considering that past 'Hanwoo Day' events have established themselves as self-reliance fund-based festivals that offer affordable purchasing opportunities for consumers while boosting farmer pride ⁵, this campaign linked to the designation of the legal memorial day is expected to exert even greater social and economic synergy.

A Historical Turning Point for the Hanwoo Industry

The hosting of the National Hanwoo Association's first official 'Hanwoo Day' commemoration serves as a historical turning point for the Hanwoo industry. Based on this designation of the legal memorial day, the association plans to further spread a livestock culture of win-win cooperation with the public ¹. Additionally, efforts are being simultaneously pursued to strengthen the global competitiveness of the Hanwoo industry, and attention is focused on whether the Hanwoo industry can produce even more shining results in the international market beyond domestic borders, marking a new era following this commemoration.