Gokyeong-myeon in Yeongcheon, renowned for receiving the most sunlight in Korea, is home to Oddakbok Peach Farm, where top-quality fruit is grown with minimal intervention. The farm is managed by a father-son team. Eom Un-hyeon, a veteran farmer with two decades of experience in peach cultivation, and his son, Eom Yeong-hwan, a novice who recently embarked on his farming career. In 2004, Eom Un-hyeon commenced peach farming on a rented plot of 2,000 pyeong (approximately 6.6 acres). He currently oversees 8,000 pyeong (approximately 26.4 acres) of both owned and rented land. His 28-year-old son, Eom Yeong-hwan, recently joined the business as a co-representative, making him the youngest farmer in the village. Despite his inexperience in the field, his years of assisting his father have equipped him with the knowledge to quickly establish himself in the business.

Peaches are generally categorized into hard (clingstone) and soft (freestone) varieties. Oddakbok Peach Farm specializes in the hard variety of peach. Despite the common misconception that hard peaches lack sweetness, the farm produces fragrant and exceptionally sweet peaches. Oddakbok Peach Farm employs strict quality control measures, with every peach harvested going through three inspections: initially in the field, then on the sorting machine, and finally after the sorting process. Only peaches that pass all three stages are sold. This rigorous process limits the shipping capability of this farm to 150 to 200 boxes daily.

Oddakbok Peach Farm cultivates a range of peach varieties, including Gyeongbong, Cheonildo, Cheonhajeildo, Yumyeong, and Sangdo, with a total of approximately 700 trees. The farm typically harvests approximately 20 tons of peaches each year. On average, around 40% of the flowers on each tree develop into fruit, yielding 150 to 200 peaches per tree. Each peach weighs between 300 and 350 grams, resulting in an annual harvest of approximately 44,000 peaches. To ensure top quality, the farm only ships peaches with a 12 Brix or higher sweetness level. Since hard peaches often have a crisp texture that can mask their flavor, maintaining a high level of sweetness is essential.

Oddakbok Peach Farm initiated a direct-to-consumer sales program five years ago, led by Eom Yeong-hwan. They established an online direct purchase channel (https://cafe.naver.com/tlsxh), which has since attracted approximately 4,000 loyal customers. Due to the high volume of repeat customers, the farm’s peaches sell out almost immediately after harvest. In its first year of operation, the farm generated a revenue of only KRW 5 million from direct sales. However, this figure grew to KRW 80 million in 2020, KRW 150 million in 2021, and KRW 200 million in 2022 and 2023. Since 2021, Oddakbok Peach Farm has exclusively sold its peaches through direct transactions. In 2024, the farm anticipates achieving approximately KRW 250 million in direct sales.
At Oddakbok Peach Farm, soil health is managed through a process of mixing cow manure with sawdust, allowing the mixture to age for a period of two years before it is spread in the fields. As the compost matures, the presence of grubs indicates that it is ready for use. The farm also supplements the soil with necessary micronutrients and microorganisms as needed. The farm employs the bagging method for peach cultivation to ensure good coloration and appearance. While they have not yet ventured into exporting, their focus on hard peaches, which are relatively easy to export, positions them well for future international sales. Given their success in the domestic market, they are confident in their competitiveness abroad.