In South Korea, watermelon is a beloved summer fruit known for its high water content and health benefits, including vitamins and antioxidants like lycopene. Although 7-8 months are the typical season, quality watermelons can be found as early as June due to advanced cultivation techniques. To ensure you pick a ripe and sweet watermelon, experts suggest looking for clearly defined stripes, a heavier weight, a 'pinging' sound when tapped, a small bottom spot, and a moderately dried stem. Additionally, a yellow ground spot indicates natural ripening. Incorrectly assumed by some as a virus, a heart-shaped line in the flesh is, in fact, a normal feature called "胎座" (pronounced 'tae-jo'), a naturally occurring part of the fruit.
