In 2025, the production volume of 'apples' decreased by 2.6% compared to the previous year.

The production of apples from 2025 is reported to have decreased by 2.6% compared to 2024. Pears, on the other hand, have increased by 10.7%. According to the '2025 Crop Area (Final) and Crop Production Survey Results - Fall Chinese Cabbage and Radish, Soybean, Apple, Pear' released by the National Data Agency on December 24, 2025, the production of apples from last year was estimated at 448,000 tons, a decrease of 2.6% compared to the previous year (460,000 tons). Over the past five years, apple production has shown a relatively sharp rise and fall, ranging from 300,000 tons to 500,000 tons. After 422,000 tons in 2020, it increased to 516,000 tons in 2021, 566,000 tons in 2022, and 394,000 tons in 2023. An official from the National Data Agency said, "The decrease in the production of apples from 2025 compared to the previous year is due to a 3.7% reduction in the area of crops planted, resulting from crop variety changes due to climate change and damage from spring forest fires." Pears had a relatively good harvest. The production of pears from 2025 was 197,000 tons, an increase of 10.7% compared to the 178,000 tons from 2024. Although the area of crops planted for pears also decreased by 2.4% due to crop variety changes caused by climate change and rising agricultural labor costs, the yield per hectare increased by 13.4%, leading to an overall increase in production, according to the National Data Agency. An official from the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs said, "Apples are expected to have a smaller proportion of large-sized apples, and prices are expected to be high due to a focus on high-quality apples." The official added, "Until the harvest of apples from 2026, the government plans to expand the supply by designating shipping times and destinations, and to distribute agricultural cooperative contracted cultivation volumes according to demand." Reporter Seo Hyo-sang hsseo@nongmin.com