The season for chotang corn, which brings sweetness to the mouth in summer, has arrived. According to Uiryeong County in South Gyeongsang on the 23rd, shipments of the region's signature specialty, chotang corn, have begun in earnest. The county said that this year's warmer-than-usual weather has made the quality of chotang corn better than in previous years.
Chotang corn boasts a high sugar content of over 17 Brix. Its English name is "Super Sweet Corn." While glutinous corn offers a nuttier flavor the more you chew, chotang corn captivates with sweetness and moisture.
Uiryeong in South Gyeongsang boasts fertile soil along the Nakdong River basin and abundant sunshine. The county began full-scale cultivation of chotang corn in the 2010s. Currently, spring corn produced in Uiryeong County accounts for 60% of the nation's total production.
The core production area is Nakseo-myeon in Uiryeong County. The chotang corn cultivation area in Nakseo-myeon, which borders the Nakdong River, is 90 ha, making it the largest cultivation area in the country. Uiryeong County, with support from South Gyeongsang Province, is pushing to create a chotang corn development complex by investing about 4 billion won in the region.
Chotang corn can be eaten raw without separate cooking. A light heat in the microwave brings out its flavor. At about 90 kcal per 100 g, it is low in calories and rich in dietary fiber and minerals.
Farmers are also eyeing chotang corn as a new income crop. The cultivation period is 80 to 90 days, about 15 days shorter than glutinous corn, making double cropping possible. If shipped early in May, it can be a transaction at about 2,000 won per ear. In the peak season of June to July, it trades at around 1,200 won per ear, which is about twice the price of glutinous corn.
However, reliance on mostly imported seed varieties is cited as a limitation. The seed price for chotang corn grown domestically is in the 50,000 to 100,000 won range for 2,000 kernels. Annual seed import volumes are not consistent, making it difficult to obtain the desired variety in time even if farmers want to grow it. In addition, lodging damage is frequent during the monsoon season, and farmers say that developing domestic varieties suited to the local climate is necessary.
Given this demand, domestic agricultural researchers are striving to develop homegrown seeds. Recently, the Gyeongbuk Agricultural Research and Extension Services developed a new variety, "Cheongmiloek," resistant to lodging during the monsoon season, and filed for plant variety protection with the Korea Seed & Variety Service. Currently, seed production for farmer distribution and training on cultivation techniques are underway. An official at the Gyeongbuk Agricultural Research and Extension Services said, "We will develop various varieties suitable for domestic cultivation conditions, including for baby-ear harvest and processing use, to broaden farmers' variety choices."