The watermelon controversy
Published: 29 May. 2023, 19:54
WI MUN-HEE
The author is a national team reporter of the JoongAng Ilbo.
Watermelon has long represented “ten thousand generations of offspring” in Korea. As the fruit has many seeds, it symbolized fertility to flourish generations over generations.
Shin Saimdang (1504-1551), the mother of renowned Confucian scholar Yulgok, drew an eight-panel folding screen with paintings of insects, animals and plants, and a watermelon is included on one of the panels. She drew many drawings of symbolic insects, plants and animals. One of her paintings, “Watermelon and Field Mouse,” owned by the National Museum of Korea, represents her wishing for generations of descendants.
The precious and expensive watermelon was one of the royal gifts to the kings of the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910). Watermelons from Mount Mudeung, South Jeolla, have dark skin and no stripes. They are two to three times bigger than other watermelons and have a rich, sweet flavor.
Haman County, South Gyeongsang, and Gochang, North Jeolla, are notable watermelon producing regions today. Spring watermelon from Haman is especially famous, whereas Gochang is known for summer variety.
Watermelon cultivation began in the Haman area in the 1800s. The rich soil of the Nakdong River basin and the abundant amount of sunlight help produce watermelons with high sugar content.
Gochang planted watermelons in the 1970s after the mountainous areas were reclaimed. Gochang is a region with no mountains or fields, except for many low hills. The soil was transformed for better drainage and watermelon farming was successful. In Gochang, people often say, “Eat watermelon instead of drinking water.”
Watermelon is 90 percent water. Dongui Bogam, a book of traditional Korean medicine, advises that watermelons can treat canker sores. The method is “drink the water in the watermelon slowly.”
Watermelon tastes good and is useful, but it is not welcome in politics. It is used to mean “the outside and the inside are different” when it comes to the Democratic Party (DP). Hardline Lee Jae-myung supporters use this term to attack non-Lee faction lawmakers.
They go to the constituencies of non-Lee faction lawmakers and perform watermelon breaking performances. In the name of the National Watermelon Production Association, they hung a banner in front of the National Assembly celebrating the birthday of non-Lee faction lawmakers. On a YouTube broadcast on May 24, Lee urged them not to use that word, but it remains to be seen.
As the weather gets hotter, watermelon season is approaching. Within the majority DP, a war of nerves between factions is escalating over how to innovate the party. Seasonal fruit is the best. Fruits that are out of season taste bad. The watermelon debate should end pretty soon.
The author is a national team reporter of the JoongAng Ilbo.
Watermelon has long represented “ten thousand generations of offspring” in Korea. As the fruit has many seeds, it symbolized fertility to flourish generations over generations.
Shin Saimdang (1504-1551), the mother of renowned Confucian scholar Yulgok, drew an eight-panel folding screen with paintings of insects, animals and plants, and a watermelon is included on one of the panels. She drew many drawings of symbolic insects, plants and animals. One of her paintings, “Watermelon and Field Mouse,” owned by the National Museum of Korea, represents her wishing for generations of descendants.
The precious and expensive watermelon was one of the royal gifts to the kings of the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910). Watermelons from Mount Mudeung, South Jeolla, have dark skin and no stripes. They are two to three times bigger than other watermelons and have a rich, sweet flavor.
Haman County, South Gyeongsang, and Gochang, North Jeolla, are notable watermelon producing regions today. Spring watermelon from Haman is especially famous, whereas Gochang is known for summer variety.
Watermelon cultivation began in the Haman area in the 1800s. The rich soil of the Nakdong River basin and the abundant amount of sunlight help produce watermelons with high sugar content.
Gochang planted watermelons in the 1970s after the mountainous areas were reclaimed. Gochang is a region with no mountains or fields, except for many low hills. The soil was transformed for better drainage and watermelon farming was successful. In Gochang, people often say, “Eat watermelon instead of drinking water.”
Watermelon is 90 percent water. Dongui Bogam, a book of traditional Korean medicine, advises that watermelons can treat canker sores. The method is “drink the water in the watermelon slowly.”
Watermelon tastes good and is useful, but it is not welcome in politics. It is used to mean “the outside and the inside are different” when it comes to the Democratic Party (DP). Hardline Lee Jae-myung supporters use this term to attack non-Lee faction lawmakers.
They go to the constituencies of non-Lee faction lawmakers and perform watermelon breaking performances. In the name of the National Watermelon Production Association, they hung a banner in front of the National Assembly celebrating the birthday of non-Lee faction lawmakers. On a YouTube broadcast on May 24, Lee urged them not to use that word, but it remains to be seen.
As the weather gets hotter, watermelon season is approaching. Within the majority DP, a war of nerves between factions is escalating over how to innovate the party. Seasonal fruit is the best. Fruits that are out of season taste bad. The watermelon debate should end pretty soon.
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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