Chamoe is a summer fruit that our people have enjoyed for a long time. It is presumed to have come to the Korean Peninsula via China during the Three Kingdoms period, and records related to chamoe remain in the historical works Haedong yeoksa and Goryeosa compiled by late Joseon practical scholar Han Chi-yun. The Goryeo celadon Cheongja gwa-hyeong byeong and Kim Hong-do's Chamoe painting also show that chamoe has long been part of our daily life.
Across the Korean Peninsula, regional landraces also developed. Notable examples include Seonghwan chamoe (also called "frog chamoe") from Seonghwan, South Chungcheong, Gangseo chamoe from Gangseo, South Pyongan, Yeolgol chamoe, and Gam chamoe. However, most landrace chamoes were late-maturing varieties. They ripened late, had lower sugar content, and stored poorly, which limited large-scale commercial cultivation.
◇euncheon chamoe from Japan becomes a "K-agriculture idol" in Korea
Korea's chamoe industry began to change in earnest when the "Euncheon chamoe" was introduced from Japan in the 1950s. Euncheon was an early-maturing variety that could be harvested earlier than existing landraces and had higher sugar content. That is why it spread quickly among farms. As domestic seed companies jumped into breeding afterward, the chamoe industry grew step by step.
Jungang Seed began distributing the "Shin-euncheon chamoe," which addressed the shortcomings of the Euncheon chamoe, in 1975. In 1984, Heungnong Seed released the "Geumssaragi chamoe," bred from the Russian dïnya melon. Geumssaragi went on to become the main variety for chamoe farms for nearly 20 years. The variety currently leading Korea's chamoe market is "Obokggul," developed in 2003 by NH NONGWOOBIO.
An interesting point is that in Japan, which passed chamoe seeds on to us, chamoe farming has all but disappeared. As Japanese farmers shifted to the more profitable cultivation of melons, chamoe breeding stopped and cultivation area shrank significantly. Many Japanese consumers have few chances to encounter chamoe, so some taste it for the first time through chamoe imported from Korea.
Recently in Japan, chamoe is sometimes called "chame" (チャメ), a Korean-style name, rather than its original name "makuwauri" (真桑瓜). In overseas markets as well, chamoe goes by "Korean melon" or "Chamoe." That is why people say, "If K-pop has BTS, the idol of K-agriculture is chamoe."
◇seongju chamoe imbued with the clear waters of Gayasan
Seongju County in North Gyeongsang is the hub of Korea's chamoe industry. Located in the inland southwest of North Gyeongsang, Seongju holds the clear waters of Gayasan and the fertile soils of the Nakdong River basin. Deep topsoil and well-drained silt loam are widely distributed, making it suitable for chamoe cultivation. Sunlight is also abundant. These natural conditions have made Seongju Korea's representative chamoe-producing region.
Seongju chamoe, with its yellow rind, distinct white stripes, crisp texture, and high sugar content, is loved by consumers. Chamoes shipped from Seongju are known to average at least 15 Brix in sugar content. Rich in vitamins A and C and potassium, they are considered a good fruit for quenching thirst and supplementing nutrition in summer.
According to Seongju County, about 180,000 tons of chamoe are produced annually in Seongju. The production value is 600 billion won. It is also growing as an export crop beyond domestic consumption. Last year, Seongju chamoe exports totaled 405 tons, with an export value of 1.926 billion won. Major export destinations include Japan, Vietnam, Singapore, Hong Kong and Australia.
The name chamoe also reflects our social history. Among the cucurbits, chamoe has the distinctive name "cham + oi" (true + cucumber). In China, it is called "jingwa," a combination of "true" (真) and "melon" (瓜). In the past, when food was scarce, chamoe also helped relieve hunger during the lean spring season. As the barley-hump season passed and chamoes began to appear, people endured the heat and replaced lacking food with the sweet, cool flesh.
A Seongju chamoe farm official said, "This year, shipments have increased from last year and prices are showing stability," adding, "The product condition is also good." The official said, "The heat arrived earlier than usual, and I hope people can get through the summer with sweet, refreshing Seongju chamoe."