REGION AND GEOGRAPHY ISSN:2586-1468(Online) 지역과 지리

The Geographical Indication (GI) system is a legal framework to protect regional specialty products that have distinctiveness based on their geographical uniqueness. To be registered for a GI, a product must meet all the conditions of geographical uniqueness. However, contrary to the system’s intent, there is a tendency for it to be overused, and criticism has been raised that it is being utilized more as a means to gain prestige than to protect geographical uniqueness. Based on this awareness of the problem, this study evaluated the geographical uniqueness of all 17 GI products in Gyeongnam province through on-site surveys and expert evaluations. The research results showed that among the 17 GI items in Gyeongnam, only two items, Hadong Green Tea and Sancheong Dried Persimmons, were highly rated for geographical uniqueness across all criteria. On the other hand, some items such as Uiryeong Manggaetteok and Namhae Garlic showed weak geographical uniqueness due to dependence on external raw materials, inadequate management systems, lack of historical significance, and low recognition. This pattern is considered not to be limited to Gyeongnam’s GI products but to be a general characteristic of the entire GI system in South Korea. The findings of this study suggest an urgent need for institutional improvements such as stricter registration screening, the introduction of systematic post-registration management, and strengthening the autonomous quality control capabilities of producer organizations.