National Horticultural Research Institute (NHRI) located in Suwon, Kyonggi province has released 17 pear varieties since authentic fruit breeding programs began in 1954. These pear releases represented 9.7% of the total pear cultivation area, which was equivalent to 21,983 ha in 1997. This representation is expected to increase. The goal of NHRI's breeding program is to improve quality and increase resistance to black spot, which is one of the most serious diseases in Asian pear. Soluble solid content has been improved from 11 to 14 oBx, and all of them have resistance to black spot disease. Recently, Niitaka, which ripens in early October, is being produced in 78% of the cultivation area. Hence, there has been a serious problem with simultaneous release of fresh fruits to the market. Therefore, NHRI has bred 12 early and late summer varieties for stabilization of the pear industry. Characteristics of new Asian pear varieties released recently in Korea are as follows: 'Whangkeumbae', a medium-sized, juicy, sweet (14.9 °Bx), soft flesh, and good tasting fruit with yellowish-green skin that ripens in mid-September; 'Chuwhangbae', a medium-sized, sweet (14.1 °Bx), good tasting, and brown russet fruit, which matures in mid-October; 'Gamcheonbae', a very large, juicy, sweet (13.3 °Bx) and brown russet fruit that ripens in early October; 'Whasan', large, juicy, sweet (12.9 °Bx) fruit with beautiful brown-russet skin, but is sensitive to fruit cracking and ripens in late September; 'Wonwhang', a very large, juicy, sweet (13.4 °Bx) fruit, but with low acid content and bright yellow-brown skin that ripens in early September.