Seongju-gun oriental melon revenue hits all-time high of W652.9b

Seongju-gun's total oriental melon revenue this year has surpassed 650 billion won, setting an all-time record.

According to Seongju-gun on Wednesday, total revenue from Seongju oriental melons reached 652.9 billion won ($38.9 million) this year.

The figure marks continued growth, rising from 601.4 billion won in 2023, 620 billion won in 2024 and 605.2 billion won last year.

Output this year reached 211,400 tons, up 13.3 percent from 186,519 tons last year.

Net farm income rose 12.6 percent to 401.5 billion won, from 356.5 billion won last year.

The number of farming households earning more than 100 million won in total revenue also climbed 4 percent from last year, to 1,895.

Seongju-gun attributed the output increase to favorable weather compared with average years, a larger cultivation area, greenhouse expansion, modernization support for facility horticulture, more foreign seasonal workers and the spread of smart farming.

"We will continue working to build a future-oriented oriental melon industry that goes beyond production-focused agriculture to encompass smart farming, exports and retail, so that Seongju oriental melons can compete not only in the domestic market but on the world stage," Seongju-gun County Chief Jeon Hwa-sik said.