Seongil Farm Co., Ltd. is the most prominent and best apple watermelon farm in Korea. The farm produces apple watermelons year-round using the latest high-set hydroponic cultivation techniques and environmentally controlled smart farm facilities. The farm was established in 2017 with the objective of producing and distributing apple watermelons. Seongil Farm initially focused on producing and distributing apple watermelons. In the first year, the company achieved KRW 100 million in sales. By 2018, the company had expanded to 25 farmers and achieved KRW 2.6 billion in sales. In 2019, the company had 41 farmers and achieved KRW 3.9 billion in sales. However, sales declined to KRW 2.2 billion in 2020 due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. In 2021, the company rebounded to achieve KRW 4.8 billion in sales despite maintaining the same number of farms. Sales continued to grow, reaching KRW 6.7 billion in 2022 and KRW 5.8 billion in 2023. The company is targeting sales of KRW 6 billion in 2024 and KRW 12 billion in 2025.

Seongil Farm provides a comprehensive range of services, including smart farming, seed distribution, cultivation technology, and distribution. A smart farm producing apple watermelons has been shown to yield five times more than a traditional farm of the same size. This equates to a 1.4 times higher product yield, a 1.25 times higher price point, and a seven times higher total sales figure. A smart farm can produce 640,000 apple watermelons annually, compared to 120,000 with conventional farming, due to the ability to grow five crops per year with 32 plants per pyeong (3.3 square meters). Over the past five years, Seongil Farm has refined its cultivation methods by consulting with 42 farms and developing a solution optimized explicitly for apple watermelons.

Kang Sang-hoon, CEO of Seongil Farm, hails from a farming family in Gochang, North Jeolla Province. He graduated from the Korea University of Agriculture and Fisheries in 2014 and was selected as a successor agricultural manager that year. In 2021, he was recognized as a prominent figure in the field of Korean agriculture. Kang has secured substantial greenhouse space for the company, including 747,246 square feet for house greenhouses, 533,747 square feet for agricultural greenhouses, 391,414 square feet of open space, and 177,915 square feet of cultivated open space. Furthermore, Seongil Farm boasts a 10,674-square-foot sorting logistics center, non-destructive sorting machines, mobile logistics equipment, and cold storage facilities. Apple watermelons from affiliated farms undergo initial appearance inspection and subsequent checks for quality and integrity at Seongil Farm’s sorting facility. Only the highest-quality watermelons are selected through a non-destructive sorting process that evaluates size, weight, appearance, and sweetness.
Seongil Farm ensures consistent marketability through rigorous quality control, employing a non-destructive sorter specifically designed for apple watermelons. The company has established solid domestic partnerships with leading suppliers such as SSG.COM and distributes to CU Convenience Store, SSG Dawn Delivery, and Lotte Mart. Their products are available for purchase at approximately 20 offline retail locations, including CU, GS25, Lotte Mart, Home Plus, E-Mart, Shinsegae Department Store, Hyundai Department Store, and E-Mart Traders. They are also available for purchase online at various e-commerce platforms, including Coupang, G Market, Tmon, Hello Nature, Auction, WeMakePrice, and SSG.COM. In the global market, Seongil Farm has achieved exports worth KRW 20 million in 2020 and 2021. Now the company is pursuing further global expansion by participating in the Paris SIAL food fair in 2022.

A regular watermelon is large and heavy, with an average weight of approximately 8 kg, and the rind constitutes over 20% of the total weight. The fruit is challenging to cut and consume, and the amount of waste generated is considerable. On the other hand, apple watermelons weigh only 1.5 kg, making them an ideal choice for smaller households and easily stored in a refrigerator. The efficient transportation of apple watermelons is also a significant advantage, with 4,000 to 5,000 units able to fit in a single vehicle, reducing logistics costs and shortening handling time. The peel of an apple watermelon accounts for only about 5% of its total weight and is slightly thicker than the chamoe (oriental melon) peel. Unlike traditional watermelons, which are typically cut and eaten, apple watermelons are small, easy to prepare, and versatile for various dishes, including apple watermelon hwache (punch), watermelon juice, and salad.