[People and People] Kim Buduk, an apple farmer in Uiseong, Gyeongbuk

Integrity and perseverance lead to overcoming crisis... The glory of winning the representative fruit award this year "I don't have a special farming philosophy. I believe that if you provide the right fertilizer and nutrition at the right time, the land will not lie, and the plants will repay you with sweetness." Kim Buduk, a farmer who has been farming apples in Uiseong, Gyeongbuk, for over 40 years, revealed the secret to winning the prestigious award at the '2025 Republic of Korea Representative Fruit Selection Contest' held at the Daejeon Convention Center (DCC) last month. As the eldest of seven siblings, Kim has been farming apples for 45 years, continuing the family business. Currently, on a 2.6-hectare orchard, Kim grows varieties such as Dongbuk 7-ho and Fuji, producing 70 tons of apples annually, generating an income of 300 million won. This year, despite the damage caused by forest fires that spread to the orchard area in the Gyeongbuk region, resulting in the loss of ...