The "six major fruits of South Korea" are apples, tangerines, peaches, grapes, pears, and persimmons. In terms of fruit production by item in 2021, these six major fruits accounted for 89.6% of the total production. Apples took the top spot at 24.8%, followed by tangerines at 19.2%, grapes at 15.5%, peaches at 13.5%, pears at 11.3%, and persimmons at 5.3%. Other fruits account for 10.4% of the total. The total fruit production value in 2021 was KRW 5,553 billion, with the six major fruits contributing KRW 4,976.6 billion. The production value of these six
major fruits was KRW 1,377.7 billion in 2021, while it was KRW 2,410 billion in 2000.

Apple production grew from KRW 497.7 billion in 2000 to KRW 820 billion in 2010, KRW 1,448 billion in 2015, KRW 1,100 billion in 2020, and KRW 1,377.7 billion in 2021. Apples have held the top position since 2015. In contrast, the production value of tangerines increased from KRW 634 billion in 2000 to KRW 931 billion in 2010, KRW 637 billion in 2015, KRW 900 billion in 2020, and KRW 1,650 billion in 2021. The area under apple cultivation increased from 29,000 hectares in 2000 to 31,000 hectares in 2010, 31,600 hectares in 2020, and 34,000 hectares in 2022. On the other hand, tangerine farms decreased from 26,868 hectares in 2000 to 21,100 hectares in 2010, 21,100 hectares in 2020, and 22,100 hectares in 2022. Peaches also experienced an increase in production value. In 2000, its production value was KRW 185 billion, which increased to KRW 200 billion in 2005, KRW 410 billion in 2010, KRW 456 billion in 2015, KRW 610 billion in 2020, and KRW 752 billion in 2021.

The total area planted with the six major fruits decreased rapidly by about 66% between 2015 and 2019. This decrease was due to the fact that the area planted with other fruits increased by an average of 2% per year after 2010 and accounted for 34% of the total area in 2019. In the medium to long term, the fruit area is expected to decrease by an average of 7% per year, reaching about 96,000 hectares in 2030. In terms of fruit exports, apples were exported 1,536 tons in 2021 and 2,542 tons in 2022, while grapes were exported 2,108 tons in 2020 and 2,315 tons in 2021, and persimmons were exported 5,609 tons in 2020, 2,098 tons in 2021, and 4,259 tons in 2022. Pears were exported in quantities of 23,566 tons in 2020, 21,841 tons in 2021, and 26,274 tons in 2022.
Export destinations include the United States, China, Canada, Taiwan, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Russia.

In 2023, production of the six major fruits shows a declining trend, except for tangerines which show a modest increase of 0.5%. Apples decreased by 23.2%, pears by 19.7%, grapes by 1.7%, and persimmons by 13.5%. In 2022, apples were produced on 34,603 hectares, yielding approximately 556,000 tons. In 2023, it is estimated that apples will be produced on 33,911 hectares, yielding about 434,900 tons. Pears are expected to be grown on about 9,607 hectares this year, producing about 202,000 tons. This is a slight decrease from the previous year when they were grown on 9,680 hectares and produced 251,100 tons.

For tangerines, the area planted in 2022 covered 14,405 hectares and produced 429,000 tons. This year, however, the area is estimated to be about 14,199 hectares, yielding about 431,200 tons. In 2022, 196,000 tons of grapes were produced from 14,655 hectares. In 2023, it is expected to produce 192,700 tons from 14,722 hectares. Persimmons produced 115,600 tons in 2022 from an area of 9,477 hectares. This year, they are expected to produce about 99,900 tons from 9,207 hectares.