Jirisan in Gurye Dyed Red, Sansuyu Berry Harvest in Full Swing

[Gurye=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Yuk Mi-seok] When autumn arrives and the foliage colors the area around Jirisan Mountain, the Cornus fruit in the Sandong-myeon area of Gurye-gun ripens to a bright red.

In spring, the yellow flowers bloom brilliantly, and in autumn, the village is quietly dyed by the ruby-like crimson fruit of the Cornus.

According to Gurye-gun, Jeollanam-do on the 18th, Gurye is the undisputed main production area of Cornus in South Korea, accounting for 63% of the country's Cornus production, with 95,000 Cornus trees growing in the Sandong-myeon area.

Cornus is harvested from early November, when the first frost falls, until early December, when snow begins. The peak harvest period is mid-November when the fruit is plump. By mid-November, residents are so busy harvesting Cornus fruit that they have to mobilize family and relatives from other regions.

Currently, 970 farms in Gurye cultivate Cornus, generating an annual income of about 4.8 billion KRW. The cultivation area is steadily increasing, now covering 308 hectares. Until 30 to 40 years ago, having just a few Cornus trees was enough to send children to university, earning it the nickname "University Tree."

In the entire Sandong-myeon area, including Sangwi Village and Bangok Village where Cornus groves are well preserved, the Cornus Festival is held every spring, creating various added values.

Cornus fruit grows well at altitudes between 300m and 500m. The greater the temperature difference between day and night, the more favorable the growth. Sandong-myeon in Gurye-gun, located at the foot of Jirisan Mountain, is considered the optimal site for Cornus growth conditions.

Cornus fruit is famous for its excellent efficacy. Cornus produced in Gurye contains beneficial nutrients such as folic acid, niacin, saponin, malic acid, vitamin C, calcium, zinc, and potassium at levels up to three times higher than Cornus produced in other regions. The fruit has a high pulp-to-whole-fruit ratio, vibrant color, and is renowned for its superior quality.

Consuming Cornus fruit regularly revitalizes the body and enhances physical functions. It strengthens the liver and kidneys responsible for detoxification and purification, effectively treating urinary disorders, tinnitus, and wind-related ailments, and has excellent tonic effects. Among its components, cornin is known to stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system.

Since ancient times, Cornus has been used medicinally in traditional Korean medicine. The Donguibogam records Cornus fruit as a beneficial remedy for kidney-related conditions, hypertension, diabetes, gynecological diseases, and various adult diseases. It is also used to boost immune function and male health.

In the past, local women in Sandong who separated the pulp and seeds of Cornus fruit by mouth had worn-down front teeth and were considered "healthy beauties," making them highly sought after as brides and daughters-in-law.

Cornus fruit boasts an attractive taste that harmonizes sweetness, sourness, and astringency. It can be dried as peel or extracted into syrup to be consumed for over a year.

Recently, it has been processed into various convenient and tasty products such as extracts, pills, beer, Makgeolli, and beverages, which are sold nationwide.

On October 8, Gurye-gun signed a business agreement with Lotte Home Shopping and Leo Economy to promote home shopping sales of Cornus products starting at the end of November.

In Gyecheok Village, Sandong-myeon, Gurye, there is a historic Cornus tree site believed to be the first Cornus tree in Korea. It is said that about 1,000 years ago, a woman who married from Shandong Province, China, brought and planted the tree.

Due to its high value as an agricultural heritage, it was designated as National Important Agricultural Heritage No. 3 in 2014, and efforts are underway to register it as a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System. Seeds from the historic Cornus tree are permanently stored in the Seed Vault at the Baekdudaegan National Arboretum.

The Cornus agriculture of Sandong-myeon, Gurye, which has continued for a thousand years, is a unique local farming method chosen by residents to sustain their livelihoods in a harsh environment with limited arable land.

Over time, Cornus trees planted by residents around the village, in rock crevices, village entrances, and ridges, have been continuously managed and expanded by their hands, forming the current Cornus village landscape.

In this process, the Cornus groves have served as an "ecological circulation axis" connecting spatially separated ecosystems, enhancing local biodiversity. They have had excellent effects in preventing soil erosion on slopes and reducing moisture evaporation, and hold high ecological value as habitats for various plants, insects, amphibians, and reptiles.

The Cornus agriculture of Gurye is a traditional agricultural heritage created through the unique local life and culture as Sandong people adapted to and understood the natural environment despite unfavorable regional conditions for farming.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.