Gyeonggi-do successfully opened export routes to the US for Korean pears. The province supported export of Korean pears to France as well as other European countries along with Malaysia using a multinational distribution company, Carrefour, in 2001. 

The province ran promotional events for pears from Shingo at eleven branches of Gelson’s on December 2-3, 2004. The events resulted in the export contract for 224 tons of pears worth KRW334 million opening the gate for annual export of over 1,000 tons. 

Sales of Korean pears to the US had mostly targeted the Korean minority group, yet Gyeonggi-do has been carrying out marketing activities in collaboration with large-size local distributors in the mainstream market since 2000. The sales promotion event in December 2004, finally bore a fruitful result. 

Gelson’s in-store food manager Mike Takeuchi stated, “The store also sells Japanese pears that are similar to Korean ones. Approximately three times more Korean pears are sold than the Japanese one daily. That’s why we do not display the two next to each other.” 

Gyeonggi-do’s effort is the countermeasure against the coming of global age in pursuit of open market for agricultural goods. Export of pears will facilitate the growth of high-quality agricultural good sector as well as the shift of emphasis from domestic demand to export demand. The province’s businesses designed to expand export will accelerate its incorporation into the global community. 

A provincial official stated, “Gyeonggi-do will continue its effort of dispatching market pioneers, participating in international trade shows, and caring out sales promotion events. It will also acquire public trust of quality and safety for its agricultural goods through international quality certifications (US FDA, Japan’s JAS) while adding cultural image to them. It will be able to realize the export worth $170 million in 2005 marking a 21% year on year growth.”