Korea's fruit sector is facing mounting challenges as climate change alters weather patterns, damages crops, and shifts cultivation zones. Rising temperatures, extended heat waves, and sudden heavy downpours are increasingly linked to fruit cracking, reduced sweetness, and declining yields.
One visible effect is the splitting of apples, a phenomenon caused when rapid water absorption during extreme weather pushes the skin beyond its capacity to expand. Prolonged sunlight exposure has also led to yellowing and spoilage. Early blossoms triggered by warm springs leave trees vulnerable to frost damage, while some farmers have experimented with costly shade structures to limit sunburn.
The Rural Development Administration projects that apple cultivation zones, currently dependent on cooler climates averaging 7.5 to 11.5 degrees Celsius, could disappear entirely by the 2090s if fossil fuel dependence continues. Under a worst-case scenario, just 1.1 per cent of existing farmland will be suitable for apples by the 2070s. Similar declines are expected for other traditional crops: pear-growing areas may shrink from 89.8 per cent to 30.1 per cent, peaches from 82.2 per cent to 29.9 per cent, and ginseng farmland from 84.1 per cent to only 9 per cent.
Ginseng is especially vulnerable to prolonged high temperatures. It requires six years to grow under shaded conditions, but persistent heat slows development and reduces quality, leaving a portion of the crop with limited commercial value.
At the same time, subtropical crops are gaining ground. Farmland suitable for hallabong citrus is projected to expand from 0.6 per cent to 12.9 per cent, and land for tangerines could increase from 1.2 per cent to 34.6 per cent.
Taste profiles are also shifting. Research by the National Institute of Horticultural and Herbal Science found that Kyoho grapes exposed to nighttime temperatures above 24 degrees Celsius contained less sugar and failed to ripen properly, turning pale instead of deep purple. Rising tropical nights are increasingly disrupting fruit quality.
Consumer markets are reflecting these changes. While Fuji apples still made up more than half of shipments in 2023, production dropped by nearly a third compared to the previous year. Meanwhile, newer varieties such as Shinano Gold, a yellow-skinned apple, have grown rapidly, with shipments rising from 0.5 tons in 2018 to nearly 3,000 tons in 2023.
Experts warn that adaptation is not straightforward. Soil conditions, production cycles, and investment requirements make crop switching difficult. Proposals to increase imports may help stabilize supply but raise concerns over the long-term viability of local fruit production. Under a low-emissions scenario, however, 16.2 per cent of farmland would still be suitable for apples by the 2070s, showing that reducing emissions could preserve part of Korea's traditional fruit landscape.
Source: Korea Times