The World of Apples

Apple varieties, South Korea

Hongro

The first apple bred in South Korea, named in 1988 to ripen for Chuseok; only Fuji covers more of its orchards

History

Hongro (홍로), “red dew”6, was the first apple variety bred in South Korea1. The Rural Development Administration’s Horticultural Research Institute crossed Spur Earliblaze with Spur Golden Delicious in 19801,2. Of 163 seedlings, one was selected in 1987 as Wongyo Ga-1 (원교 가-1), named Hongro in 1988 and released to nurseries1,2; trials at six sites in 1990–92 confirmed it as a well-coloured, heavy-cropping apple for Chuseok2, the autumn holiday when apples are wanted for rites and gifts3.

Until the 1990s the Chuseok apples were Japanese varieties such as Tsugaru, which ripened too late for it or softened3. Hongro, cropping more heavily and hardly dropping its fruit, was expected to replace Tsugaru2. By 2019 it covered 15.7 per cent of South Korea’s apple area, second only to Fuji, and the administration’s apple research institute put its gain to growers over Tsugaru at about 70 billion won a year, against some 200 million won spent breeding it3. In 2023 the Korea Rural Economic Institute estimated 4,699 hectares, 13.9 per cent, and reported that more growers meant to switch to varieties such as Arisoo, as Hongro needs more labour and is prone to disease4. With Gamhong it is a parent of Eazypple, bred in 20195.

The fruit

The administration describes a fruit of about 300 grams, oblong and deep red with hardly any stripes, with 14–15 per cent sugar, 0.25–0.31 per cent acid and firm flesh, good to eat but not very juicy1; its 2026 figures are 282 grams, 14.9 °Brix and 0.27 per cent acid5.

It is picked in early to mid September, or from late August, and keeps about 30 days at room temperature1; its firm flesh travels well2. Large fruit are prone to watercore and keep less well1,2.

Growing

A spur type, the tree bears early and heavily and drops little fruit before harvest1,2. Its vigour falls sharply once it crops, and overcropping brings weak trees and alternate bearing, so early thinning is needed1. It flowers with Tsugaru, and its plentiful pollen makes it a good polliniser2. It is susceptible to Alternaria leaf spot and anthracnose1,2, to Phytophthora rot and ring rot on the stems, and in recent springs to a stem necrosis named after it1.

Where the sources disagree

  • Stripes and juice. Hardly any stripes, and rather little juice, by the administration’s sheet1; deep red stripes and juicy flesh by an early description, the juice increasing markedly from early September2.
  • Season. Early to mid September1,5, or mid to late September, with an average harvest at Suwon on 15 September2.
  • Colour. The sheet says it colours fairly well even in low, warm areas1; in 2019 the apple research institute said it was colouring ever worse and had to be grown in cooler districts3.
  • Area. The administration gives 15.7 per cent in 2019 and 16.1 per cent in 20263,5; the Korea Rural Economic Institute’s survey gave 13.9 per cent for 20234.

Family tree

Parents, grandparents and great-grandparents, as the entries in the atlas record them.

  • Hongro South Korea, 1980
    • Parent Spur Earliblaze
    • Parent Spur Golden Delicious

Sources

  1. Hongro: variety description (in Korean), Rural Development Administration (RDA), variety information sheet. Supports: 홍로 (Hongro), "the first apple variety bred in Korea": crossed in 1980 at the Horticultural Research Institute, Spur Earliblaze with Spur Golden Delicious; first selected in 1987 as Wongyo Ga-1 (원교 가-1); finally selected and named in 1988; harvest early to mid September, possible from late August; fruit 300 g, oblong, deep red with hardly any stripes; 14–15 per cent sugar, 0.25–0.31 per cent acid; firm flesh, good eating quality but rather little juice; keeps about 30 days at room temperature; young trees vigorous, vigour falling sharply once fruiting; early bearing, productive, almost no pre-harvest drop; colours fairly well even in low, warm areas; overcropping weakens trees and causes alternate bearing, so early thinning; large fruit prone to watercore; susceptible to Alternaria leaf spot, Phytophthora rot and anthracnose, with much ring rot on the stems; a stem necrosis named after Hongro, frequent in recent springs.
  2. Hongro: varieties for adoption (in Korean), Muju County, apple tree adoption programme. Supports: the 1980 cross of Spur Earliblaze with Spur Golden Delicious at the Horticultural Research Institute; 163 seedlings, of which 14-20 was first selected in 1987 as Wongyo Ga-01; named Hongro in 1988 and distributed to nurseries; regional trials at six sites in 1990–1992 recognising a productive, well-coloured variety for shipping at Chuseok, with an average of 279 g and 13.8 °Bx; fruit 300–350 g, oblong, deep red stripes, white, dense, juicy flesh; less juice early in colouring, much more from early September; average harvest at Suwon 15 September; keeps 30–40 days at room temperature, firm flesh that travels well; spur type of medium vigour and spreading habit, bearing early and heavily; full bloom at Suwon on 5 May on average, at the same time as Tsugaru; abundant, viable pollen and high compatibility with the main varieties, making a good polliniser; weak to Alternaria leaf spot and anthracnose; little russet, cracking or pre-harvest drop; large fruit with watercore keep less well; expected to replace Tsugaru as it crops more and hardly drops its fruit.
  3. Arisoo, a good-tasting apple even for an early Chuseok, goes on general sale (briefing, in Korean), Park Kyo-seon, Apple Research Institute, National Institute of Horticultural and Herbal Science (RDA); Korea Policy Briefing, 2019-09-04. Supports: Chuseok apples in demand for ancestral rites and gifts; until the 1990s the Chuseok apples were Japanese varieties such as Tsugaru, which ripened after Chuseok or softened badly; Hongro, developed in 1988, the country's first Chuseok apple variety; Hongro "15.7%" of the apple area, the most widely grown after Fuji; about 70 billion won a year in added value compared with growing Tsugaru, against about 200 million won spent developing it; Hongro colouring less and less well, so that it must be grown in cooler places such as Jangsu, Andong, Yecheon and Cheongsong; Arisoo bred as its successor.
  4. Agricultural outlook: fruit, December 2023 (in Korean), Korea Rural Economic Institute (KREI), Agricultural Outlook Center, 2023-12-05. Supports: apple area by variety from sample farms and monitors (4 December): Hongro 4,699 ha, 13.9 per cent, in 2023 and a projected 4,625 ha, 13.7 per cent, in 2024; Hongro needs more labour than other varieties and is vulnerable to disease, so growers increasingly intend to change to varieties such as Arisoo.
  5. Korean varieties lead the Chuseok apple market (press release, in Korean), Rural Development Administration (RDA), National Institute of Horticultural and Herbal Science; Korea Policy Briefing, 2026-09-20. Supports: Hongro ripens in early September, colours red well and is the representative Chuseok apple; it "currently" covers "16.1%" of South Korea's apple area; Eazypple bred in 2019 from Hongro (seed parent) and Gamhong (pollen parent); attached table: Hongro early September, red, 282 g, 14.9 °Brix, 0.27 per cent acid.
  6. The apple called "red dew" goes on sale in mid-month (in Korean), Park Jong-seo, The Korea Economic Daily (Hankyung), 2025-09-04. Supports: Hongro's name meaning "red dew"; a purely Korean variety, made in 1980 by crossing Spur Earliblaze and Spur Golden Delicious.

  • Arisoo

    Bred to follow Hongro as South Korea's Chuseok apple; it colours in summer heat, and its cut flesh barely browns

    South Korea, 1994

  • Gamhong

    Named in 1992 for "sweet" and "red", it proved hard to grow and made its name at the apple festival in Mungyeong

    South Korea, 1981

  • Photograph of Wang Young apples at the National Fruit Collection, Brogdale, one cut across.

    Wang Young

    South Korea, by 1967