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 strawberry variety ‘Arihyang’ was derived as an artificial cross between ‘Tochiotome’ and ‘Seolhyang’ in 2014. The seedling and line selections were conducted from 2014 to 2015. Preliminary and advanced yield trials of ‘14-5-5,’ which was the final selected line, were conducted from 2015 to 2017. ‘Arihyang’ is suitable for forced cultivation and has strong plant vigor, uniformly large-sized fruit, and a high yield compared to those of the check variety, ‘Seolhyang’ and ‘Maehyang.’ Especially, vitamin C was at a significant level, which was approximately 15% higher than that of ‘Seolhyang.’ The average number of flowers per first flower cluster was 10.5, which could reduce the labor of thinning fruit. Its fruit has a conical shape, dark red color, and glossy skin. The fruit was of good quality but has recommendations for harvest at the fully ripened stage. ‘Arihyang’ has intermediate resistant to phytophthora crown rot, but is susceptible to powdery mildew, gray mold, anthracnose, and fusarium wilt. It is reguired to manage major diseases and pests using optimum cultivation techniques and chemical control.