JEJU-DO < invest Korea

According to the fifth report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), Jeju’s average temperature has risen by around 1.6°C over the last eight decades and is still rising at an increasing rate. Korea’s Rural Development Administration (RDA) projected that subtropical areas will take up 26.6% of Korea’s agricultural land by 2060. According to the administration, the percentage is expected to reach 62.3% by 2080, which means the majority of land in the Korean Peninsula will belong to the subtropical climate zone. In fact, Jeju is already on the northern boundary of the subtropical climate zone. The rapid warming is likely to push the farming areas of napa cabbages, daikon, and other winter crops further north, and will replace these crops with subtropical crops. Tangerines were originally grown in Jeju and the southern region of the peninsula. By 2019, the tangerine-growing areas have expanded to include a part of Gyeonggi-do. Jeju has been consolidating its standing as a producer of tropical and subtropical crops, such as mango, banana, and papaya. Korea’s transition from a temperate climate to a subtropical climate has changed the country’s agricultural map.

Starting in 2008, Jeju began to grow subtropical and tropical crops. The practice began with mango, which was followed by dragon fruit, guava, atemoya, avocado, and passion fruits. Jeju also tested asparagus, broccoli, kohlrabi, artichoke, beet, brussels sprout, balsam apple, and other subtropical vegetables known for their adaptability to Jeju’s environment, and farmers began developing cultivating techniques for the crops. Some of the crops are still grown today. In 2014, Jeju succeeded in the outdoor cultivation of olives and began distribution. Building on the previous experience with the cultivation of tropical and subtropical crops, Jeju created its own apple mango and banana brands, which recorded positive results in the market.

As of 2018, among subtropical fruits, apple mango topped the list in terms of cultivation area, production, and revenue. Mango is one of the world’s most iconic tropical fruits. The fruit has gained global popularity with its soft texture and sweetness. Many farmers in Jeju grow apple mango, which offers a stronger aroma and an even softer texture. A ripe mango only maintains its quality for around 10 days. For this reason, imported mangoes are harvested before they are fully grown and distributed in Korea after fumigation or chemical treatment. The taste and aroma of home-grown mangoes are bound to be different because they are only harvested when fully ripe. According to Ko Seung-chan, a researcher at the Jeju Agricultural Technology Center, the sugar content of imported mangoes measures at 12 Brix or lower, whereas the sugar content of Jeju-grown apple mangoes is 15 Brix or higher. Mangoes are also highly profitable. The fruit’s profit rate is 1.5 times higher than that of greenhouse-grown tangerines. Mango’s high sugar content and soft texture make it a popular choice as an ingredient in fruit salads, shaved ice, yogurt, and other desserts. In 2008, Hotel Shilla Jeju launched the Jeju Apple Mango Shaved Ice as its signature summer dish. The dessert’s popularity is still growing despite its less than affordable price (over KRW 50,000), thanks to its refined flavor and aroma.

Kiwifruit is not included in the subtropical fruit survey by the Jeju Agricultural Technology Center, but it accounts for the highest production volume among subtropical crops in Jeju. According to the 2018 fruit revenue data, 521 farms produced around 8,300 t of kiwifruit, which earned them KRW 30 billion in revenue. Jeju farms cultivate a wide range of kiwifruit cultivars, including those developed in Korea, such as gold kiwi and red kiwi. Jeju exported 80 t of kiwifruit to Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, and Japan in 2017, and the export volume doubled to around 160 t in 2018. Zespri, a premium kiwifruit brand created by New Zealand kiwifruit producers, signed a cooperation deal with the City of Seogwipo in 2004. The partnership resulted in the release of Jeju Gold Kiwi in January 2007, and the brand and the city have been continuing their partnership to date. In 2015, RDA developed Korea’s own kiwifruit cultivars (Jecy Gold and Halla Gold) and distributed them to various kiwifruit farms. Through these cultivars, local farmers do not need to spend on royalties for foreign cultivars, and agricultural productivity is also enhanced.

Balsam apple is a vine-type vegetable rich in vitamin C and minerals. The vegetable is known to prevent diabetes and obesity and alleviate hypotension symptoms. These benefits add to its popularity as a “health functional” crop. The total area of balsam apple-growing lands in Korea is 107.92 ha, which is the largest among the subtropical crops grown in Korea. Balsam apple has wide-ranging applications as a health food and is an ingredient for various Asian foods, which enhances its potential as a high-value crop within the senary industry.

As discussed above, Jeju is fast responding to climate change and leading the development, production, and popularization of subtropical crop cultivars. Jeju offers various benefits tailored for the cultivation of subtropical crops. Located at the southernmost tip of the Korean Peninsula, the island offers the benefit of hotter average temperatures, which lowers the cost of artificial temperature control for subtropical crops. Moreover, some subtropical crops can be grown without heating. The commercial cultivation of subtropical crops can also benefit from Jeju’s background as a popular tourist spot. Thanks to the island’s brand as a tourist destination with excellent natural environments and biodiversity, Jeju is emerging as the mecca of the bio industry.

The development of the senary industry is one of the prerequisites for raising the competitiveness of the agriculture industry. Korea is currently focusing on stabilizing the cultivation of tropical and subtropical crops by improving the relevant cultivars and enhancing their profitability, along with various experiments to test the possibility of developing a senary industry based on the crops.

brand strategies distinguished from imported crops.” Kiwifruit, mango, and banana have successfully raised awareness on Jeju’s tropical/subtropical brands, thanks to high-end brand strategies. Jeju bananas are sold at prices twice higher than imported bananas, and it still generates steady sales because of its brand image as healthy fruit grown in eco-friendly ways. Similarly, Jeju apple mangoes, despite their high price range, are widely sold at department stores. The fruit has built a high-end brand image as a fruit with high sugar content and outstanding quality.

In 2016, the Agricultural Research Center for Climate Change held a demonstration event on fusion Korean cuisine containing using subtropical vegetables. The event was aimed at promoting tropical and subtropical crops grown in Korea. The event was joined by professional chefs as well as a team from Gyeonggi University-Department of Food Service Management and Culinary Arts, led by Professor Kim Myung-hee. The participants unveiled 24 kinds of kimchi (kkakdugi), stir-fried dishes, salads, and desserts containing 15 subtropical crops grown in Jeju, such as balsam apple and morning glory. After the event, visitors received Indian spinach seedlings and booklets containing subtropical crop recipes.