The sweet story of...
Korean strawberries
오늘의 픽뉴스;
[Arts & Culture] The sweet story of Korean strawberries
Time now for our Arts and Culture segment. Our culture correspondent Song Yoo-jin joins us in the studio. Welcome! Happy Friday! What do you have for us today? Here in Korea, it's not the cherry on top. It's the strawberry. This time of year, they're everywhere, piling up in markets, topping off desserts, and filling bakery shelves. But Korean strawberries aren't just a seasonal favorite anymore. They're making their way beyond our tables and into markets around the world.
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the cherry on top 금상첨화
this time of year 이 맘 때쯤
top off ~ 을 마무리 짓다
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For this week, I looked into the story behind Korean strawberry's success. From cakes and tarts to canapes and salads and even sandwiches, strawberries dominate bakeries and restaurants across Korea this time of year. But their appeal isn't just local. While Southeast Asia has long been a key market, Korean strawberries are now expanding into new regions. Compared to 2021, exports to the Middle East jumped 40 times last year, while U.S. exports increased threefold. "Until the early 2000s, Japanese strawberries dominated exports to Hong Kong and Southeast Asia. But in 2002, Korea developed the Maehyang variety, which has firmer flesh, a longer shelf life, and a sweeter taste, ideal for export.
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look into ~ 을 조사하다
tart 타트 (속에 과일같이 달콤한 것을 넣고 위에 반죽을 씌우지 않고 만든 파이)
canape [ˌkænəˈpeɪ ] 카나페 (작은 비스킷이나 빵 위에 치즈·고기 등을 얹은 술안주)
variety [ vəˈraɪəti ] 품종; flesh 과육
shelf life 유통 기한
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That was the turning point." It all started here. "The Strawberry Research Institute in Nonsan City, Chungcheongnam-do Province, about a two-hour drive from Seoul is where Korea's signature strawberry varieties are developed. So far, researchers here have cultivated over a dozen unique varieties." This institute introduced the internationally popular Maehyang and then Seolhyang in 2005, which holds an 80-percent share of the domestic market. It's also home to trending varieties like King's Berry, as large as a fist, and Vita Berry, known for its high vitamin content.
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cultivate [ˈkʌltɪveɪtɪd] 재배하다
home 원산지, 본거지
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Developing new strains is a rigorous process, typically taking five to seven years. "We do it through selective breeding, with a focus on taste and yield. The flavor must stand out to attract consumers, and a high-yield variety ensures stable supply." This commitment has shaped the iconic flavor of Korean strawberries. "Korean strawberries offer a unique sweet-tart balance, which is different to many tropical fruits, for example. They also have a juicy texture and softer bite, which makes them especially popular among international consumers." But the journey doesn't stop here, with researchers working to develop the breakthrough variety.
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strain 품종
rigorous [ˈrɪɡərəs] 철저한, 엄격한
yield [ jiːld ] 생산량
stand out 빼어나다, 눈에 띄다
sweet-tart balance 당도와 시큼한 맛의 균형
juicy texture 즙이 많은 식감
breakthrough 큰 발전, 돌파구
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"We're developing new varieties with improved durability for the sake of distribution. At the same time, as climate conditions change, we're also focusing on breeding disease-resistant strawberries." It's a success story that's getting sweeter, and it looks like the best is yet to come. Seems like a "berry" good business indeed! Yoo-jin, while strawberries are in peak season here in Korea, they're typically known as a summer fruit in many other parts of the world. What makes Korea different? That's right. Strawberries used to peak in early summer here as well, around May.
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durability 내구성, 튼튼함
distribution 배급, 분배
disease-resistant 질병에 잘 견디는
be yet to come 아직 오지 않았다
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But thanks to advancements in farming technology, such as greenhouse cultivation with precise temperature control, farmers can now harvest strawberries even in the cold winter months. What's interesting is that winter strawberries take a little over two months from flowering to harvest, compared to just one to one-and-a-half months for summer varieties.
This slower growth at lower temperatures allows the fruit to develop a denser, firmer texture and accumulate more nutrients, resulting in a sweeter, more flavorful berry.
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from flowering to harvest 개화기에서 수확기까지
result in 그 결과 ~가 되다
flavorful 풍미 있는, 맛 좋은(tasty)
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And there's also a strategic shift in marketing. With fewer fruit options available in winter, producers began focusing on the colder months to meet consumer demand. That's fascinating. And for our viewers who might want to try some, do you have any recommendations from the many K-strawberry varieties out there? Absolutely. According to the Strawberry Research Institute, Korea has developed around 60 to 70 varieties, though only about 10 are available in the market.
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strategic shift 전략적인 전환 [변화]
fascinating 대단히 흥미로운, 매력적인
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For those looking for a classic favorite, researcher Yang, who appeared in my report, recommends Seolhyang, loved for their soft texture and sweetness. A newer variety to look out for is Joy Berry, which was introduced in 2023 They're firmer and even sweeter than Seolhyang. And for something unique, there's Doorihyang, known for its distinctive fragrance. They actually went viral after BTS member Jin posted about them on social media. So many varieties to explore. Thank you Yoo-jin for your report today. My pleasure.
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classic favorite 고전적인 선호물
look out for ~ 을 찾다
distinctive fragrance 특이한 향기
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영어 원문 출처 및 링크; arirang news/ Life/Culture
https://m.arirang.com/news/view/?id=280938
https://m.arirang.com/news/view/?id=280938
