Warming Jeju seeks new opportunity

JEJU ISLAND -- For more than 20 years, Kang Cheol-june, 55, had cultivated tomatoes in this southernmost island of Jeju. 

In August, however, Kang is expecting to harvest mangos for the first time since he turned to the semitropical fruit five years ago. 

The mango cultivar Irwin used to be grown in warmer regions such as Japan, Taiwan and Australia. Thanks to rising temperatures on Jeju, its cultivation has become possible on the island. 

Due to the reddish color, it is better known as “apple mango” in Korea.

“The warming temperatures make it possible to grow semitropical fruits. In the hopes of higher earnings, I began mango farming,” Kang said.

Global warming is changing climate conditions on Jeju and its environmental landscape. 

According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, the average temperature of the Korean Peninsula has increased 1.5 degrees Celsius over the past century, more than double the global average of 0.74 degrees Celsius. 

The warming trend is more apparent in Jeju where the average temperature increased 1.6 degrees Celsius during the same period.

Mount Halla, the nation’s tallest mountain, has different climatic zones at each altitude, becoming the home for a variety of plants and animals.