Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs: 'Damage to Fruit from the Heatwave and Drought Is 99.6% Concentrated in Gyeongnam' — Explanation on Chuseok Fruit Supply
Source material is a Korean government announcement (in Korean).
On August 14, 2026, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (농림축산식품부) explained that 99.6% of the area of reported damage to major fruit crops from the heatwave and drought is concentrated in the Gyeongnam region, so the effect on the supply of fruit as a whole is limited.
Key facts
| Date of explanation | August 14, 2026 (Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, 농림축산식품부) |
|---|---|
| Area of reported damage | As of August 14: apples 47.6ha, pears 50.3ha, sweet persimmons 1,653.8ha — of which the Gyeongnam region accounts for 99.6% |
| Gyeongnam's share of cultivated area | As of 2024, as a share of total cultivated area: sweet persimmons 67.6%, apples 11.1%, pears 5.0% |
| Change in cultivated area | This year sweet persimmons 9,843ha (+5.8% from last year) and pears 9,302ha (+4.9% from last year) — National Data Office (국가데이터처) |
| Production outlook | In a Korea Rural Economic Institute survey on August 13, sweet persimmons were down somewhat from last year while apples and pears were up from last year |
| Damage rate in Gyeongnam | According to the Gyeongsangnam-do Agricultural Research and Extension Services, the damage rate for apples and pears, which are in peak demand at Chuseok, is under 5%, the level of an average year |
| Wholesale price of early-ripening pears (Wonhwang) | August 3: 70,696 won per 15kg → August 6: 69,466 won → August 10: 66,135 won → August 13: 60,799 won |
| Price of early-ripening apples (Tsugaru) | In mid-August the wholesale price was down 7.8% from last year and the retail price down 26.3% from last year |
| Support for farms | Since June, pesticides and nutrients have been supplied at discounts of up to 50% through 62 Nonghyup branches in the main fruit-growing areas (a volume 12.0% larger than last year) |
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On August 14, 2026, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (농림축산식품부) explained that damage from the heatwave and drought is largely confined to the Gyeongnam region and that fruit growth in other regions is good, so the effect of the heatwave and drought on the supply of fruit as a whole has so far been limited. As of August 14, the Gyeongnam region accounts for 99.6% of the area of reported damage to major fruit crops. It said that seasonal fruit such as early-ripening apples and pears is holding at price levels that are stable compared with last year and average years, as shipments expand from August onward.
Background — why this change
This explanation is the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs' explanatory material on an August 14 report by the Busan Ilbo (부산일보) titled '폭염에 화상 입고 가뭄에 못 크고… 추석 과일값 예고된 폭등' (Scorched by the heat, stunted by the drought… the foretold surge in Chuseok fruit prices). The ministry said that for sweet persimmons, whose main production area is Gyeongnam, the continued high temperatures and drought have recently caused sunscald (일소) damage and poor growth at some farms, depending on the terrain of the orchard and whether irrigation facilities are installed. The Korea Rural Economic Institute explained that, with showers forecast nationwide on August 14-15 (rainfall of 50-100mm in Gyeongnam), the production outlook could shift somewhat depending on whether the damaged fruit trees recover.
Summaries below are factual notes based on government announcements and primary sources — not evaluations or opinions.
FAQ
Will Chuseok apple and pear prices rise sharply?
The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, citing Gyeongsangnam-do Agricultural Research and Extension Services material, explained that the damage rate for apples and pears, which are in peak demand at Chuseok, is under 5%, the level of an average year, and that the area of reported damage is also very small at 0.5% and 0.1% of total cultivated area respectively, so the effect of the heatwave and drought on supply is expected to be slight.
What are seasonal fruit prices like now?
The wholesale price of early-ripening pears (Wonhwang) trended down from 70,696 won per 15kg on August 3 to 60,799 won on August 13, and for early-ripening apples (Tsugaru) the mid-August wholesale price was down 7.8% from last year and the retail price down 26.3% from last year.
What supply measures is the government pursuing?
Since June it has supplied pesticides and nutrients at discounts of up to 50% through 62 Nonghyup branches in the main fruit-growing areas, and it supports disaster prevention facilities such as micro-sprinklers, sunshade nets and frost-protection fans. Since 2025 it has also been concentrating supply of peak-demand items such as apples and pears during surges in demand at Seollal, Chuseok and other times through the 'designated fruit shipment support' program.