The Korean melon has finally made its debut in the Vietnamese market. This achievement is the result of 17 years of quarantine negotiations, and it is expected to expand the export market for domestic fruits.
The Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency announced that after concluding the quarantine requirement negotiations with Vietnam in April 2024, the first export was carried out on March 17, 2025. This marks the first official allowance of Korean melon exports to Vietnam.
The quarantine negotiations for melon exports began in 2008. At that time, South Korea requested permission to export 10 items, including apples, pears, grapes, tomatoes, strawberries, persimmons, bell peppers, melons, citrus, and peaches, to Vietnam. After active negotiations, seven items were approved by 2023, and melon was confirmed as the eighth item to be allowed for export in 2024.
This first export was led by the Wahlhang Agricultural Cooperative in Seongju-gun, Gyeongsangbuk-do. The domestic melon that passed the export quarantine was shipped to Vietnam, and the expansion of domestic melon’s presence in Southeast Asian markets is eagerly anticipated. Until now, Korean melons were only exported to Japan, Hong Kong, and Taiwan, making the Vietnam export a first.
Exporting melons to Vietnam requires going through strict procedures. Not only do the cultivation site and sorting center need to be registered, but proof of the absence of the pumpkin fruit fly is also required. A Vietnamese plant quarantine expert must visit the site in person to verify compliance with quarantine requirements. Only farms that pass all these criteria can export.
Kim Jeong-hee, Director of the Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency, stated, “This melon export extends beyond the market entry of a single item; it signifies a meaningful achievement that broadens the possibilities for domestic agricultural products to enter international markets.” He continued, “We will continue to pursue customized quarantine negotiations to enable more diverse overseas exports of Korean agricultural products.”
In 2023, a total of 313.4 tons ($1,461,500) of domestic melons were exported, with major export destinations being Japan (190.9 tons), Hong Kong (51.9 tons), Singapore (20.7 tons), and Taiwan (32.5 tons). In 2024, 279.6 tons ($1,326,600) were exported, and with the entry into the Vietnamese market, export volumes are expected to increase even further.
Vietnam is one of the most active fruit-consuming countries in Southeast Asia, and this success is expected to enhance the brand value of domestic melons. Depending on local consumer responses, an increase in export volumes is also anticipated.