KCC's "Soopuro Tree Guard" Proves Paint-Film Durability, Cuts Cracking by 35%

Jointly developed a protective paint for fruit trees with the Rural Development Administration and KCC
Limits temperature rise and flexibly accommodates tree-trunk expansion and contraction

Soopuro Tree Guard, a protective paint for fruit trees jointly developed by KCC and the Rural Development Administration, showed better paint-film durability than ordinary paint in on-farm testing.

The application of “Supuro Tree Guard,” a protective paint developed specifically for fruit trees by the Rural Development Administration and KCC, is being demonstrated. KCC

In September 2026, the Rural Development Administration and KCC surveyed five apple orchards in Miryang and Geochang, South Gyeongsang Province. The results showed that Soopuro Tree Guard reduced the paint-film cracking rate by about 35 percentage points on tree trunks and about 34 percentage points at graft unions compared with ordinary white water-based paint.

The findings were presented on October 27 at a briefing for agricultural trade journalists held at the National Institute of Horticultural and Herbal Science. The Rural Development Administration explained the background behind the development of the fruit-tree-specific paint, its features, and the results of the field testing, and shared instructions for use and plans for future distribution.

Soopuro Tree Guard is a water-based paint developed specifically for fruit trees to help prevent winter cold damage and bark splitting caused by factors including large daily temperature swings. KCC and the Rural Development Administration's National Institute of Horticultural and Herbal Science developed it through a joint research agreement and a government-funded project. After jointly filing a patent application, they launched the product in January 2026.

The product's heat-shielding, extensibility, and water-resistance properties were enhanced with fruit-tree growth and cultivation conditions in mind. Its highly reflective coating reflects 92.1% of sunlight and 91.8% of near-infrared radiation, helping prevent tree trunks from overheating during the day. In tests at an air temperature of 0°C, the trunks of uncoated trees warmed by as much as 13.1°C, while those coated with Soopuro Tree Guard warmed by only 2.6–3.5°C.

The paint film is designed to be flexible, with an elongation rate of 120%, so it can accommodate the expansion and contraction of tree trunks. It helps prevent the film from cracking or peeling easily, limiting sunlight exposure and moisture penetration. Farmers also gave positive assessments of its durability, saying that "the color holds better and cracks occur less often than with ordinary paint."

The product is also easy to apply. It can be brushed or rolled onto tree trunks, and for larger areas, it can be diluted with water at the ratio recommended in the product instructions and applied with a sprayer. To prevent winter cold damage, it is recommended that the paint be applied after harvest and before severe cold sets in, covering the lower part of the trunk to a height of about 70 cm from the ground.

In 2026, the Rural Development Administration is working to distribute the product through its New Technology Dissemination Project at 10 sites across Gangwon, North Chungcheong, South Chungcheong, and North Gyeongsang provinces, covering a total of 10 hectares. In 2027, it plans to distribute the product at 10 additional sites in coordination with its New Technology Dissemination Project for Disease-Free Seedlings. KCC and the Rural Development Administration are checking application conditions, ease of use, and tree growth to assess the product's suitability for field use.

Kim Gwangju, executive director of KCC's Distribution Paint Business Division, said, "Soopuro Tree Guard is a product developed to meet the needs of agricultural communities by combining KCC's paint technology with the Rural Development Administration's expertise in fruit-tree research. We will continue to work with the Rural Development Administration, incorporate feedback from the field, and strive to ensure that technologies addressing climate change provide practical benefits to fruit growers."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.