Hwalok Agritourism Co., Ltd. is a company located at 26 Mokbeoran-gil, Chungju-si, Chungcheongbuk-do, specializing in the cultivation of facility crops such as shiitake mushrooms and wasabi. The company is operated by CEO Lee Young-deok with 30 employees and is engaged in a business that combines agriculture and tourism in conjunction with Hwalok Cave.

"Hwalok Agritourism Co., Ltd. was established in 2020 and is pursuing a business that integrates agriculture and tourism based on Chungju Hwalok Cave. Utilizing the unique environment of Hwalok Cave, which was once the largest talc mine in East Asia, it cultivates shiitake mushrooms and wasabi, operating in conjunction with tourism resources."

Business Areas

• Facility Crop Cultivation: Shiitake mushrooms and wasabi are cultivated by utilizing the stable cave environment with temperatures ranging from 11 to 15 degrees Celsius year-round. This is a specialized agricultural business that leverages the unique conditions of the cave.
• Agritourism Farm Operation: Based on Chungju Hwalok Cave, the company operates an agritourism farm business, offering visitors various experiences and facilities such as cave exploration, hydroponic facility tours, a cafe, and a gift shop.

Products

• Shiitake Mushrooms: Fresh shiitake mushrooms cultivated within the cave are produced as the main agricultural product. The focus is on cultivating high-quality mushrooms in a stable environment.
• Wasabi: Wasabi is produced using hydroponic cultivation, taking advantage of the cave's low-temperature environment. The cultivated wasabi can be utilized in various forms.
• Hwalok Cave Tourism Products and Services: Special experiences are offered to visitors through Hwalok Cave admission and experience programs, in-cave cafe beverages and desserts, and gift shop souvenirs.

Special Notes

• Utilizing a Unique Cave Environment: By leveraging the characteristics of Hwalok Cave, which maintains a constant temperature (11-15 degrees Celsius) year-round, it provides an optimized environment for growing shiitake mushrooms and wasabi. This is a distinct advantage compared to conventional agricultural environments.
• Convergence of Agriculture and Tourism: The company has successfully transformed a former mine into an agritourism farm, establishing a unique business model that combines agricultural product cultivation with tourism experiences. It is a representative tourist attraction in the Chungju region, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors annually.
• Contribution to Local Economic Revitalization: Chungju Hwalok Cave, as a major local tourist attraction, significantly contributes to the revitalization of the local economy by attracting visitors. It also participates in community contribution activities.

Recruitment Information

• Main Hiring Positions: The company primarily recruits for positions in crop cultivation and farm management, as well as sales, customer service, and cafe manager roles within Hwalok Cave.
• Benefits: Four major insurances including National Pension, Employment Insurance, and Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance are provided, and lunch is supported. Additionally, contract workers may have opportunities for conversion to permanent positions based on performance.

💡 A Word from JobPloy
Hwalok Agritourism Co., Ltd. is a company that cultivates shiitake mushrooms and wasabi in the unique environment of a cave and operates it in conjunction with tourism. It is expected that there will be many jobs related to crop cultivation and farm management, as well as customer service (sales, cafe, etc.) within Hwalok Cave. The agricultural sector may require physical labor, and tourism service jobs require customer service skills. It is important to understand and adapt to the special working environment of the cave, and be aware that there may be work on weekends and holidays.