Red Hyang Farmers Call for Disaster Status

With winter shipment approaching, Red Hyang trees, which would normally be laden with fruit, only show leaves.

The little fruit that remains is overripe and barely clinging to the branches. The slightest touch is enough to send them tumbling to the ground.

This summer’s prolonged heatwave and tropical nights resulted in extensive damage to citrus during the growing period.

According to a survey by the Jeju Agricultural Research & Extension Services, the damage rate of Red Hyang fruit in the first week of this month was 35.8%, a 1.4% increase from the fourth week of last month.

By region, Seogwipo, a major citrus-producing area, has seen a heat damage rate of 40%.

In light of the unprecedented devastation, farmers are calling for urgent help to minimize the damage to their livelihoods.

At a press conference, the Jeju Red Hyang Research Association announced the results of a survey conducted on 25 farms, revealing an alarming heat damage rate of 83%. The association urged the government to declare it an agricultural disaster and take appropriate measures.

The association emphasized the problem of denying insurance coverage for Red Hyang damage on the grounds of its varietal traits, calling it unfair.

INTERVIEW
Oh Byung-guk / Head, Jeju Red Hyang Research Association
Farmers are facing not only looming loan repayments and the cost of agricultural materials, but also a serious threat to their livelihoods. We urge both the government and the province to swiftly reform the disaster management system and insurance policies to reflect current realities.

Farmers warned that moving away from traditional citrus types like Red Hyang could destabilize the entire citrus industry on the island.

INTERVIEW
Moon Dae-jin / Red Hyang Farmer
Almost half the farmers are considering switching to other varieties. If that happens, the production base for late-harvest citrus fruits could collapse, leading to price instability and broader issues for the industry.

Jeju officials have announced plans to actively review the demands of farmers and to request government support where it’s needed.