Gamsa Farm is located at an altitude of 1,300 meters. It benefits from excellent drainage and significant temperature variations between day and night. This environment helps the farm produce persimmons with a firm texture, crisp flavor, high sweetness and vibrant color. However, farming on steep mountain slopes presents challenges. The farm avoids herbicides entirely; grass is mowed by hand and turned into compost to enrich the soil. Fertilizers made from beneficial microorganisms, seaweed powder, and fish meal are fermented to nourish the soil, allowing roots to decompose organically and enrich the soil as the grass decomposes in the fall, facilitating aeration. This practice encourages thriving worm populations, which create natural airways and increase microbial activity, resulting in healthier soil. The limited use of chemical fertilizers results in “DanGam4U” persimmons.

The persimmon trees at Gamsa Farm produce approximately 90% male flowers and 10% female flowers. The abundant pollen from the male flowers helps fertilize the female flowers, increasing fruit production. Even under adverse weather conditions, Gamsa Farm experienced significantly less natural flower drop than non-pollinated persimmon orchards. This innovative cultivation method was introduced by Seo Min-ho, the head of Gamsa Farm.
The origin of the farm dates back to the mid-1950s under the leadership of Seo Gi-jo. After he passed away 25 years ago, the farm was left to his youngest son, Seo Min-ho. Persimmon trees can bear fruit for more than a century, and the average age of the 800 trees at Gamsa Farm is about 40 years. Of these, 300 trees were planted by Seo Gi-jo, while 500 were added by Seo Min-ho in 1986, shortly after completing his military service.

This year, Gamsa Farm faced challenges due to high temperatures in August and September, which stunted persimmon growth and delayed ripening by 10 to 15 days compared to last year. The first harvest attempt on October 25 was postponed due to unripe fruit, and the full harvest began on November 17. Harvesting typically takes 15 to 20 days. About 4,000 crates of persimmons, each weighing 10 kilograms, are collected from the farm’s 7,000 pyeong (about 23,000 square meters) of land. The persimmons are stored in the farm’s cold storage facilities from mid-December to the end of February. Gamsa Farm’s single variety “Buyu” persimmons can remain on the tree for about one month after ripening and can be stored for up to five months.

This year’s expected yield of 40 tons will be distributed to Hyundai Department Store Apgujeong in Seoul and the well-known Korean vegetable retail chain “Chonggakne Vegetable Store”, which has been a major outlet for the farm for the past decade. “DanGam4U” persimmons are recognized as Korea’s finest, ensuring consistent demand. A 10-kilogram box of premium persimmons sells for KRW 60,000. Including smaller fruits, the average price per box is around KRW 30,000, resulting in an expected revenue of KRW 120 million.
Seo Min-ho was named one of Korea’s Top 100 Star Farmers by the National Quality Management Institute for his exemplary farming practices and superior yields. His methods and results distinguish him as a leader in agriculture. Gamsa Farm’s persimmons won top honors in a national produce competition organized by the Quality Management Institute. The Rural Development Administration also recognized its fruit as one of the best in the “Top Fruit” program.