Is It True That 'Subtropical Fruit' Kiwi Is Being Cultivated in Goseong, the Northernmost Part of Gangwon-do?

Impact of Climate Warming... Marine Climate with Cool Summers and Warm Winters Also Plays a Role
Good Taste and Quality Evaluated... Expected to Continue Expanding at 7 Cultivation Farms

In Goseong, Gangwon-do, the northernmost region of South Korea, the cultivation of the subtropical crop 'kiwi' is becoming a hot topic.

Apple orchards, which are 'temperate fruit trees' that grow well in cool climates, have long been moving northward, with apples from the Gangwon-do region being highly rated for their taste and quality. Now, kiwi is also being cultivated in Goseong, known as a 'cold region,' attracting attention.

Due to the impact of global warming, cultivation areas for apples and tangerines are moving northward, and it is noteworthy that the subtropical fruit kiwi is being grown in Goseong, Gangwon Province, the northernmost part of South Korea. The photo shows a kiwi farm in Goseong, Gangwon Province.

Kiwi is mainly grown in Jeju Island and the southern coastal areas, but due to climate change and the northward shift of suitable cultivation areas, it is now being grown in Goseong, Gangwon-do. The first kiwi cultivation in Goseong began in 2017 at the farm of Hong Yeonsu in Myeongpari, Goseong-gun. Currently, there are seven farms cultivating kiwi, covering an area of 2 hectares, and it is expected to expand further.

The main factor enabling kiwi cultivation in Goseong is its proximity to the sea, which creates a marine climate that is cool in summer and warm in winter. Additionally, recent climate warming appears to have made cultivation possible.

A kiwi farm in Goseong, Gangwon Province.

Accordingly, Goseong-gun (Governor Ham Myeongjun) adopted a pilot project in 2020 to support orchard infrastructure such as seedlings and cultivation facilities, as well as provide cultivation technology education. Furthermore, the excellent variety 'Gamwhang,' developed by the Rural Development Administration, was distributed as the main variety, receiving positive evaluations from consumers for its taste and quality.

Hong Yeonsu, who is in the sixth year of cultivation, said, "After many trials and errors since the first cultivation in the region, with financial and technical support from Goseong-gun, we have been able to stably produce high-quality kiwi. This time, we plan to sell the kiwi harvested from a 2,000-pyeong (approximately 6,600 square meters) farm through school meals, local food stores, and direct consumer transactions, expecting an income of 25 to 30 million KRW."

Yoon Hyungrak, director of the Agricultural Technology Center in Goseong-gun, Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province, said, "As kiwi cultivation becomes possible in the region due to climate change, we will actively support the establishment of customized cultivation techniques suited to local characteristics and prevention of winter East Sea damage, so that it can be established as a profitable crop for farmers."

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