Interview Shin Wang-su, CageRab Chairman: "I Will Serve My Local Community as a Businessperson"

[News S=Reporter Eom In-yong] The Gyeonggi Province Citizens' Association (Chairman Yu Yong-tae) recently held the '40th Regular General Meeting and New Year's Reception' at The White Veil in Seocho-dong, Seoul, with attendance from Gyeonggi Province Citizens' Association Chairman Yu Yong-tae, former chairman Lee Jae-chang, Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Dong-yeon, former governors Son Hak-kyu and Kim Moon-soo, association executives, and members numbering about 200.

At the regular general meeting held that day, two items were deliberated and approved: the 2025 operational results and settlement (draft) and the 2026 operational plan and budget (draft). The Gyeonggi Province Governor's Commendation was also awarded to 30 individuals, including Shin Wang-su, CageRab Chairman, who made significant contributions to local community development.

Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Dong-yeon delivered a congratulatory speech, saying, "I am grateful to Gyeonggi Province Citizens' Association Chairman Yu Yong-tae and related executives and guests for making efforts toward the unity and development of 14 million residents of Gyeonggi Province."

We met with Shin Wang-su, CageRab Chairman, who received the Gyeonggi Province Governor's Commendation in recognition of his decades of contributions to the development of Gyeonggi Province and the local community.

Following is a question-and-answer session.

- I understand you have contributed to fundraising for the Gyeonggi Province Citizens' Scholarship Foundation?

"I am providing 5 million won as scholarship funds to the Gyeonggi Province Citizens' Scholarship Foundation and sponsoring 1.2 million won annually (100,000 won per month) over more than 10 years. Since I was born in my hometown of Yangpyeong and experienced difficult school days, I am helping excellent students residing in Gyeonggi Province and also supporting the operation of Gyeonggi Blue Future Hall, a dormitory for Gyeonggi Province university students operated in Dobong-gu, Seoul."

- I understand you have been providing scholarships within Yangpyeong County for over 30 years?

"I am also depositing scholarships with the Yangpyeong County Education Development Committee. Every year, I donate funds and health functional foods to Yangpyeong County Happy Sharing Donations and the Yangpyeong County Comprehensive Social Welfare Center under the Council for Social Welfare Fund Raising, with the aim of enhancing the value of social enterprises."

- What is CageRab, which has grown into a global company?

"Although it is a small and medium enterprise, we export Korean ginseng products to approximately 40 countries worldwide, exporting nearly 10 million dollars annually. We received export towers from President Roh Moo-hyun in 2004 and President Park Geun-hye in 2014. In addition, we have won two agricultural and food export towers from the Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, two export towers from the Gyeonggi Province Governor, export merit commendations from the Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy, three export merit commendations from the Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, gold medals from domestic product exhibitions, and a Prime Minister's Award, establishing ourselves as a leading company in Korea's ginseng field. The company has rapidly grown to become the second-largest exporter in the Korean ginseng product industry after Cheong Kwan Jang, with a cumulative export of USD 55 million (approximately 70 billion won) as of 2025."

- You must have faced many challenges in growing your business alone in the barren terrain of Yangpyeong?

"There were many trials and sufferings, and there were disappointments and frustrations, but I have overcome and recovered them with faith and prayer, and I am simply grateful that I am still alive and breathing today. These days, with political turmoil and economic hardship, all global buyers are experiencing trials due to wars and other issues. Although exports have declined significantly, we have additionally invested approximately 3 to 4 billion won in soft capsule lines, hard capsule lines, tablet formulation lines, liquid stick lines, powder stick lines, ointment lines, glass vial automatic lines, PP bottle automatic lines, jelly stick automatic lines, and pouch pack lines, evolving into specialized health functional food research, development, production, and export companies with increased activity in the OEM and ODM sectors. Despite difficult times, we are fortunately showing remarkable growth of 30 to 40%, and employment has actually increased significantly."

- You served for a long time as chairman of the Yangpyeong County Businesspeople's Association?

"Based on my experience as chairman of the Yangpyeong County Businesspeople's Association, I am currently promoting the establishment of the Yangpyeong County Export Businesspeople's Association. Additionally, I am serving as vice-chairman of the Yangpyeong Cultural Center and am assisting Cultural Center Director Choi Young-shik in accelerating efforts to discover, research, and inherit Yangpyeong County's history and culture. After concluding business agreements with nearby Hongcheon Cultural Center, Ulaanbaatar Cultural Promotion Institute in Mongolia, and Gyeonggi Province Office of Education Student Education Center, we are actively conducting various exchanges."

- What are your future plans?

"In early October, we are preparing for the '2025 Regional Culture Expo,' the country's first nationwide event at the county level, which will be hosted by Yangpyeong County and Yangpyeong Cultural Center and sponsored by the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Sports and organized by the Korean Cultural Centers Association, bringing together 232 cultural centers from cities and counties nationwide. Additionally, Yangpyeong Cultural Center was founded in 1983 and is celebrating its 43rd anniversary this year. We are in the process of preparing the publication of Yangpyeong Cultural Center's 40-year history and autobiography for the fourth year. Furthermore, I believe that considering 'the blessing of labor' as the greatest grace, living for 30 years learning, 30 years working, and 30 years serving is the life of modern people. I am contemplating ways to serve as a businessperson in my local community."