South Korean Apple Farmers Fear Fallout as U.S. Trade Pressures Mount

 Cheongsong, South Korea — Nestled in the mountainous southeast of South Korea, Cheongsong County is famed for its crisp, flavour-rich apples — so prized they are often gifted in decorative boxes during national holidays. Yet, behind the idyllic image of this agricultural heartland lies growing anxiety among local farmers, as trade tensions between Seoul and Washington threaten to upend their way of life.

Roughly a third of the county’s 14,000 households rely on apple farming. Now, these growers fear they could become collateral damage in ongoing trade negotiations aimed at lifting U.S. tariffs on South Korean automobiles, steel, and other key exports.

Last week, South Korea’s trade minister hinted that Seoul might consider opening parts of its agricultural sector as part of a broader deal with the United States — though he stressed that “sensitive items” would be protected. The reassurance has done little to calm fears in Cheongsong.

“U.S. apples are very cheap. We can't compete with them,” said Shim Chun-taek, a third-generation apple farmer with over two decades in the business. He warns that Korean farmers risk being sacrificed to safeguard industrial exports.

The U.S. has long pressed for greater access to Asian agricultural markets — particularly for apples, beef, and potatoes. In April, President Donald Trump criticised steep tariffs imposed by South Korea and Japan, singling out rice among other agricultural products. While Seoul has eased some barriers — becoming the top importer of U.S. beef and the sixth-largest buyer of American farm goods — Washington remains dissatisfied with what it views as persistent non-tariff restrictions.

Among these is South Korea’s prolonged review of U.S. apple import requests, which have remained under quarantine scrutiny for more than 30 years. U.S. trade representatives have urged Seoul to expedite the approval process for a broader range of produce, including fruits and potatoes.

Meanwhile, domestic challenges continue to squeeze South Korea’s apple growers. The sector is grappling with climate volatility, a rapidly ageing population, and rising risks from wildfires. These pressures have led to shrinking harvests and soaring prices. According to the Bank of Korea, apple prices in the country are nearly three times the OECD average, contributing significantly to food inflation.

Bank of Korea Governor Rhee Chang-yong has argued for reconsidering food import policies, saying that high prices are a burden on consumers and that controlled market access could ease inflation. His remarks have added momentum to calls for reform.

Yet critics of increased liberalisation warn that easing import controls would have irreversible consequences for rural communities. “It’s difficult to justify absolute protection for certain sectors,” said Choi Seok-young, a former chief negotiator of the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement. Still, he acknowledged that the delay in approving U.S. apple imports appeared “hard to justify based on science and international standards.”

Trade discussions between the two allies increasingly mirror similar disputes with Japan, where agriculture has emerged as a major sticking point. Recent U.S. trade deals with countries such as Indonesia and the United Kingdom have included expanded agricultural access, further pressuring Asian partners to follow suit.

In South Korea, such moves have a contentious history. The 2008 agreement to lift restrictions on U.S. beef imports led to massive protests, as public fears over mad cow disease ran high. Cheongsong’s farmers warn that apple imports could provoke similar unrest.

Shim, 48, who begins his day at 3 a.m. tending to his orchard, says there are no viable alternatives in the county’s rugged terrain. “We can’t grow anything else here,” he said.

Already, farmers’ unions have begun mobilising. “We oppose the imports of apples no matter what,” declared Youn Kyung-hee, mayor of Cheongsong County. “People will not sit still if Seoul opens up the market.”

As Seoul walks a tightrope between trade diplomacy and domestic stability, the apple orchards of Cheongsong may become an unlikely but powerful symbol of the nation’s struggle to protect tradition in the face of global economic demands.