Withered apple blossom. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
CHEONGSONG•ANDONG, South Korea, April 17 (Korea Bizwire) — A series of large-scale wildfires that swept through South Korea’s northern Gyeongsangbuk-do Province earlier this year are threatening to severely reduce the country’s apple harvest, fueling concerns that soaring prices may again lead to so-called “golden apples” in the marketplace.
The fires, which ravaged key apple-producing counties including Andong, Cheongsong, Uiseong, Yeongyang, and Yeongdeok, affected approximately 9,362 hectares—about 28% of South Korea’s total apple cultivation area of 33,000 hectares.
Cheongsong County alone accounts for 14% of national apple production and is widely regarded for its high-altitude orchards and large diurnal temperature swings, ideal for growing premium apples.
When reporters visited Cheongsong on April 15, they found scorched hillsides and heat-damaged apple trees with withered blossoms. Farmers in the area warn that this year’s harvest could collapse due to heat damage during the critical flowering stage.
“In many cases, the trees couldn’t even bloom. Even if they did, they won’t be able to grow apples due to the heat-dried interior,” said Ryu Young-woo, a farmer in Jinbo-myeon, who lost 1,800 trees to the fires. “From the outside, the trees look intact, but inside, they’re rotting.”
An apple tree in a farm in Imha-myeon, Andong City, North Gyeongsang Province, stands damaged after being scorched by wildfire. (Yonhap)
Ryu and other growers forecast that apple prices could surge by at least 30% starting in July, when this year’s apples begin to hit the market. “Last year, we talked about ‘golden apples’ when prices hit ₩10,000 apiece. This year, we might be looking at ‘platinum apples,’” he said, adding that rising prices could hurt overall sales volumes.
Other farmers echoed his concerns. “There are trees that managed to bloom, but the blossoms are dry and lifeless,” said Geum Gwang-su, a Cheongsong grower who also lost over 1,200 crates of apples stored in cold warehouses—many of which were destroyed by the blaze.
As of mid-April, 40 cold storage units in Cheongsong had been damaged or destroyed, according to local authorities. In total, the fire damaged an estimated 8% of all apple orchards in Gyeongsangbuk-do, with over 1,600 hectares burned across the five counties.
At the national level, apple prices are already trending higher. According to Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation data, the wholesale price of apples averaged ₩6,912 per kilogram in mid-April—up 71% from the same period last year. Retail prices also rose 14% year-on-year.
Industry insiders expect further increases ahead of Chuseok, the Korean harvest festival in October. “Given that Cheongsong and Andong—two of the largest production areas—suffered wildfire damage, prices will likely climb,” said a distribution center official from the Cheongsong Agricultural Cooperative.
Even if trees survived the heat, farmers warn that yield and quality will likely suffer. “If trees don’t bloom or the fruit doesn’t set properly, we won’t have much to sell,” said Kim Hyun-geun, a grower in Andong. “Some trees are alive but too damaged to bear fruit.”
A newly sprouted apple tree stands in stark contrast to another tree dried out by the intense heat. (Yonhap)
Replanting efforts also face hurdles. “Even if we replant now, it will take at least two years to see any fruit, and young trees are in short supply,” said Woo Tae-hyuk, who manages a 16,500-square-meter orchard.
While Gyeongbuk officials say it’s too early to predict nationwide price impacts—citing the need to evaluate harvests in unaffected regions—many in the industry believe the market is already bracing for a costly apple season.
Ashley Song (ashley@koreabizwire.com)
