The South Korean city of Jeongeup has drawn up a plan to increase its seedless watermelons to Japan this year on the back of their growing popularity in the neighboring country, the municipal government said Tuesday.

The municipal government said it will ship 128 tons of its "Danpoong Mi-in" (Maple Beauty) seedless watermelons to Japan in the second half of the year, compared with 40 tons in the first half of the year.

The 40 tons marked a 2.3-fold increase from the same period last year, it said.

As part of efforts to promote Danpoong Mi-in seedless watermelons, officials from Jeongeup, a town in South Korea's southwest province of North Jeolla, will hold publicity events in Fukuoka, southwestern Japan, and Tokyo late this month.

The watermelon specialty, thoroughly certified by the city, is a higher level of watermelon with the weight of each reaching 6 to 8 kilograms and sugar content at 11 brix or higher.

Last year the watermelons were offered at five outlets of the CGC Group, a Japanese co-operative chain consisting of small and mid-sized supermarkets, in Fukuoka.

One of the reasons for the popularity of the fruit, grown to not contain seeds, is that it is very convenient to not have to worry about swallowing seeds or popping them when eating.

An official from the city's farming technology center attributed the increase in Japanese consumer interest in the product to its efforts at pest control and upgrading the melon's sugar content, adding the municipality will also export 20 tons of cherry tomatoes along with the seedless watermelons. (Yonhap)