Nowadays most parts of vegetable breeding in Korea have been conducted by private seed companies. However, in the beginning stages of breeding research, Horticulture Experiment Station played a crucial role. Major vegetable varieties that are distributed from Korea are produced as F₁ hybrids. Korea has developed leading techniques and human infrastructure for vegetable breeding. Such brilliant developments have resulted from three major factors: changes in the composition of varieties, the establishment of year-round vegetable production, and the development of the seed export market. First, an F₁ hybrid system increased seed performance more than traditional open pollinated (OP) varieties with respect to productivity, uniformity and disease resistance. Moreover, an F₁ hybrid system required repetitive seed production and provision, which increased the economic growth of seed companies. Second, vegetables tend to be consumed fresh instead of dried or processed. Finally, vegetable seed exports have continuously increased with the aid of R&D projects such as the Golden Seed Project (GSP). Therefore, for further progress of the vegetable industry, new varieties that can meet consumers’ demands, as well as the stable provision of fresh vegetables, are required. Contrary to the past, the future focus must be concerned with productivity and cultivation stability, the development of high value, functional, eco-friendly vegetables, and high quality vegetables. To cope with this, every breeding subject, including industry, universities, and institutes, have to collaborate with the aim of advancing vegetable breeding in Korea.

A cultivar of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) with sharply large oval and purple leaf, ‘Jahokmaschima’, which has late bolting and a high yield, was developed from a cross between ‘Bulkkoch’ (dark red leaf color and early bolting) and ‘Cheongpung’ (high yield). The cross and selection for advanced lines was conducted by the pedigree method between 2005 and 2011. The advanced lines were evaluated for yield and adaptability at six locations in Korea (Gangwon-do, Gyeonggi-do, Chungcheongbuk-do, Jeollabuk-do, Gyeongnam-do, and Jeju-do) for 3 years until 2014. The ‘Jahokmaschima’ lettuce has a gray seed color, and the leaf type of the matured stage is a large oval leaf, leaf no. 67 per plant, and late bolting. In particular, the ‘Jahokmaschima’ has good resistant to tip burn in the growth period. The anthocyanin and vitamin C content of ‘Jahokmaschima’ were lower than those of ‘Tomallin’, at 4.05 mg/100g and 27.7 mg/100g, respectively. The BSL (bitter sesquiterpene lactones; latucin, 8-deoxylactucin, and lactucopicrin) content of ‘Jahokmaschima’ was lower than that of ‘Tomallin’, at 2.120 µg/g DW. Compared with ‘Tomallin’, the marketable yield of ‘Jahokmaschima’ was 1% higher (at 374 g per plant) and particularly improved late in bolting in high temperature cultivation in the field. The shelf-life of ‘Jahokmaschima’ was similar to ‘Tomallin’ at 4ºC. Furthermore, it tasted better, and was crispier and sweeter than ‘Tomallin’. Thus, we recommend that the new cultivar ‘Jahokmaschima’ is suitable for cultivation in spring and fall.