The first batch of Korean melons successfully entered the Vietnamese market in March 2025, following an agreement on quarantine negotiations between the Republic of Korea and Vietnam in July 2024. This milestone comes after 17 years of efforts by the Korean government, which began quarantine negotiations with Vietnam in 2008.
In 2025, a total of 33 tonnes of Korean melons, primarily produced in Seongju-gun, Gyeongsangbuk-do, were exported to Vietnam. The volume is expected to grow significantly, supported by a supply agreement with a major local big-box store and a contract to supply in-flight meals for a Vietnamese airline. In South Korea, "gun" is an administrative unit corresponding to a county below a city, and "do" refers to a province.
Amid the growing uncertainty of the international trading environment, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (MAFRA) of the Republic of Korea has selected 11 major export items for quarantine negotiations in 2025. These include sweet persimmons, Korean tangerines, and kiwis, among other agricultural and livestock products. The move is part of a broader strategy to expand the entry of Korean products into overseas markets.
Minister Song Miryung of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs emphasized the government's commitment to boosting export opportunities, stating, "We will make the utmost effort to expand the export markets for Korean agricultural and livestock products by taking advantage of strategic quarantine negotiations with our trading partners."
For more information:
Seung-ho Choi
Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs
Tel: +82 44 201 1120
Email: [email protected]
www.mafra.go.kr