KT&G to Raise Leaf Tobacco Purchase Prices

*This content was translated by AI.

KT&G has decided to increase the price of domestic leaf tobacco to assist leaf tobacco growers facing difficulties.

KT&G plans to invest an additional 2.2 billion won in purchasing domestic leaf tobacco compared to last year. Through this support, the company aims to further strengthen symbiotic cooperation with leaf tobacco farming communities.

KT&G has been supporting health checkup fees and scholarships for leaf tobacco farmers facing economic burdens due to aging and other factors since 2013, marking the 14th consecutive year. Through these efforts, the cumulative number of beneficiaries has reached approximately 16,500 growers.

A KT&G official, speaking to this newspaper by phone, stated, "We decided to raise the purchase price of domestic leaf tobacco to actively support farmers who are currently facing difficulties due to the Middle East conflict and other factors."

Meanwhile, the growth and harvest of leaf tobacco hinge on temperature control, meticulous management centered on manual labor, and sequential harvesting staggered by time. Tobacco is a subtropical crop sensitive to temperature changes, requiring approximately four to five months from sowing to transplanting into the main field.

It is known that tobacco was first introduced to Korea in 1590 during the Imjin War through Japanese troops. Following this, cultivation spread nationwide, centered on the Yeongnam region, starting around 1602 during the early reign of King Gwanghaegun. The first modern-style cigarette was the "Karl" brand, a manufactured cigarette (cigarette made with paper) imported by a Chinese merchant and first sold in 1897.

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*This content was translated by AI.