FAS/Seoul Monitoring of Media Reporting on Agricultural Issues 

Today's Date: Friday,  April  25,  2025

For Coverage:  April  18  ~  25,  2025

Japan's interest in Korean rice soars as local marketing kicks off 
https://www.nongmin.com/article/20250423500720
Summary:  Due to soaring rice prices in Japan—now more than double compared to last year—interest in Korean rice is rapidly growing. The Korean National Agricultural Cooperative Federation (Nonghyup) is working with Japan’s agricultural cooperatives to expand sales of Korean rice, following a successful trial shipment that sold out quickly. With Japan facing supply disruptions and limited retail availability, the two sides are launching full-scale marketing efforts, including the first official sales of Korean rice at a Japanese agricultural cooperative store in May.

MAFRA signs MOU with KAIST to advance agricultural convergence with cutting-edge technologies 
http://www.foodnews.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=112977
Summary:  The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (MAFRA) signed an MOU with the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) on April 24 to lead innovation in agriculture through cutting-edge technologies like AI and advanced biotechnology, foster future agricultural talent, and boost tech-based startups. The agreement includes collaboration on training convergence experts, promoting tech entrepreneurship, and conducting international joint research on climate change and disaster response. Both parties aim to expand joint research and education programs that connect science and technology with agricultural field challenges, and to support startup initiatives through platforms like KAIST’s Startup Institute and the Green Bio Venture Campus.

Political circle 'Agricultural support missing in supplementary budget plan, needs to be supplemented'. 
https://www.nongmin.com/article/20250423500721
Summary:  The agricultural sector has called for the supplementation of the supplementary budget plan, as the "mineral fertilizer price subsidy program" and other related budgets were omitted from the government's supplementary budget proposal, which amounts to 12 trillion won.  In response, the political circle also united in calling for an expansion of agricultural budgets.  On the 23rd, the National Assembly's Committee on Agriculture, Food, Rural Affairs, Oceans and Fisheries held a plenary meeting and reviewed the 2025 supplementary budget plan.

Targeting the big spender, the U.S. market’... Nonghyup strengthens U.S. agricultural and food export network. 
https://www.nongmin.com/article/20250423500336
Summary:  Nonghyup has rolled up its sleeves to expand the presence of fresh agricultural products and food items in the U.S. market by building a local network.  On the 21st (local time), Kang Ho-dong, the Chairman of Nonghyup, met with Cho Hyun-dong, the South Korean Ambassador to the U.S., in Washington D.C. to discuss ways to expand the presence of Nonghyup's agricultural products in the local market.  They also requested government-level attention and support for market development.

Sharp increase in imports of fresh agricultural products for price regulation in Q1 
http://www.foodnews.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=112942
Summary:  The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety announced on the 23rd that Korea’s food imports in the first quarter of 2025 amounted to $8.66 billion, a 3.5% increase from the same period last year.  By product category, processed foods and livestock products accounted for the largest shares at $2.56 billion and $2.15 billion, respectively, and by country, imports from the U.S. and China took the lead with $1.84 billion and $1.62 billion each.  In particular, imports of fresh agricultural products (370,000 tons, 13.5%+) such as onions, cabbages and tangerines increased due to the operation of quota tariffs for price regulation and raw honey with comb and peanut butter, which gained popularity via online platforms, also saw a significant increase at $385,000 (25,885%+) and $8.7 million (101.7%+), respectively.

From processed foods to restaurant ingredients... Pushing for legislation on 'GMO full labeling system'.
https://www.nongmin.com/article/20250422500125
Summary:  South Korean lawmaker Song Ok-joo proposed a bill to mandate full labeling of genetically modified organisms (GMOs), requiring food products and restaurant ingredients made with GMO raw materials to be labeled, regardless of whether GMO proteins remain after processing. The proposal aims to enhance consumer rights but faces opposition from the food industry, which cites safety concerns and rising costs, while a majority of restaurant franchise representatives expressed support for the change. Additionally, the article notes mixed industry reactions to the potential import of genetically modified potatoes from the U.S., with many voicing safety and image concerns.

LPAI antigen detected at a broiler farm in Jeungpyeong, Chungcheong Province 
https://www.yna.co.kr/view/AKR20250422095300064?section=industry/agriculture
Summary:  A low pathogenic AI (LPAI) antigen has been detected at a broiler farm in Jeungpyeong, Chungcheong Province.  This farm is currently raising around 97,000 broiler chickens.  Jeungpyeong-gun has restricted the movement of livestock, residents and workers within the farm and plans to conduct a precise examination.

Lotte Mart-Super expands sales of smart farm produce... Responding to the climate crisis. 
https://www.donga.com/news/Economy/article/all/20250422/131467025/1
Summary:  Lotte Mart and Supermarkets Expand Sales of Smart Farm Produce to Respond to Climate Change.  Lotte Mart and Supermarkets announced on the 22nd that they will increase the variety of smart farm-grown products to over 50 types and double the volume compared to the previous year. A smart farm is a farm that uses information and communication technology (ICT) to manage the growing environment and improve production efficiency.

IMF halves South Korea’s 2024 growth forecast from 2.0% to 1.0%
https://www.donga.com/news/Economy/article/all/20250422/131472929/2
Summary:  The IMF sharply lowered South Korea’s 2024 economic growth forecast from 2.0% to 1.0%, citing the country's high dependence on exports to the U.S. and potential fallout from rising U.S. trade tariffs. While global growth was also revised down from 3.3% to 2.8%, South Korea experienced the steepest downgrade among major economies. The IMF highlighted global risks such as trade tensions, high interest rates, and financial market volatility, while urging cautious monetary policy, fiscal discipline, and expanded trade cooperation to counter slowing growth.

Korea's seaweed exports hit record high in Q1; $1 billion annual export possible 
https://www.joongang.co.kr/article/25329996
Summary:  Thanks to strong demand from the U.S. and China, Korea’s seaweed (gim) exports hit a record high of $281 million in Q1 2025, marking a 21.1% increase from the same period last year. The U.S. was the top importer, followed by China—where dried seaweed exports nearly doubled, driven by a kimbap trend—and Japan and Thailand. With both export volume and value rising, Korea may surpass its 2027 target of $1 billion in annual seaweed exports this year, though low raw seaweed prices due to oversupply remain a concern.

Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency launches special investigation unit to tackle illegal agro-livestock imports
http://www.foodnews.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=112886
Summary:  To combat the rise in illegal and increasingly sophisticated imports of unquarantined agricultural and livestock products, the Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency launched a new Special Investigation Unit on April 18. In 2024 alone, over 213,000 cases of illegal imports were detected at borders, and digital forensics has become vital as such activities are now often conducted secretly via social media using coded language. The new team, based in Incheon, will initially cover central regions and be supported by an in-house digital forensics center to enhance investigative capabilities.

All you need to know about Korea’s strawberries
https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/lifestyle/travel-food/20250417/everything-you-need-to-know-about-koreas-strawberries
Summary:  Korean strawberries have become a hot souvenir among tourists, especially in Seoul's Mangwon Market. Their sweetness, softness, and bright red color make them a popular treat, best enjoyed fresh. Korea now grows 18 homegrown varieties, with Seolhyang being the most beloved. According to Statistics Korea, strawberry exports soared from $32 million in 2016 to $69 million in 2024, ranking third after paprika and pears.