FAS/Seoul Monitoring of Media Reporting on Agricultural Issues 

Today's Date: Friday,  March  28,  2025

For Coverage:  March  21  ~  28, 2025

The worst wildfire in history burned an area 60% the size of Seoul... Death toll rises by 2 to 28
https://www.donga.com/news/Society/article/all/20250328/131300253/2
Summary:  The wildfires that began on March 21 across South Korea have become the worst in the country's history, with the affected area expanding to 38,665 hectares (about 64% of Seoul's total area) and the death toll rising to 28, surpassing previous records. The fires have spread rapidly across multiple provinces, including Gyeongnam, Gyeongbuk, Ulsan, Chungbuk, and Jeonbuk, with firefighting efforts struggling to keep pace with the fast-moving flames. The government has declared additional special disaster zones in Andong, Cheongsong, Yeongyang, and Yeongdeok in North Gyeongsang Province, as the situation continues to worsen, and the number of casualties is expected to rise further.

MFDS's "Imported Food Electronic Inspection System" certified as an AI management system
http://www.foodnews.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=112525
Summary:  The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety’s (MFDS) "SAFE-i24" system, an AI-based imported food inspection system, has become the first government agency system to receive ISO/IEC 42001 certification for AI management. SAFE-i24 fully automates administrative tasks, reducing inspection time from up to 48 hours to under five minutes, enabling 24/7 document processing. This certification recognizes MFDS’s AI management capabilities at an international level and highlights South Korea’s leadership in digital governance for food safety.

Tongyeong Agricultural Cooperative, exports two types of salted crab to the U.S... First supply to H Mart.
https://www.donga.com/news/Society/article/all/20250327/131293318/1
Summary:  Tongyeong Agricultural Cooperative has exported salted crabs, a processed seafood product, to the United States.  This is the first time that an agricultural cooperative has exported processed seafood products.  Gyeongnam Agricultural Cooperative announced on the 27th that Tongyeong Agricultural Cooperative processed crabs caught in the clean waters of the southern coast into two types: soy sauce crab and spicy crab paste, and supplied them to the U.S. H-Mart as the first shipment.

Cabbage imports surge 11 times…threatening domestic production base.
https://www.nongmin.com/article/20250324500951
Summary:  It has been revealed that the import volume of cabbage has surged 11 times compared to the previous year, and the import volume of major leafy and root vegetables has skyrocketed.  There are increasing criticisms that the government extended the low-tariff quota (TRQ) until the end of April and recently promoted the purchase of fresh cabbage and radishes directly from China, encouraging the expansion of imports.  If this continues, a sharp drop in prices for major leafy and root vegetables in May is inevitable in the short term, and in the long term, there are concerns that the domestic production base could collapse.

Prolonged economic recession… Consumers say ‘no more vegan lifestyle’
https://www.donga.com/news/Economy/article/all/20250325/131279902/2
Summary:  The vegan food market, once booming due to health and environmental trends, is now slowing both globally and in Korea as prolonged economic downturns push consumers toward cost-effective choices. Major plant-based meat brands like Impossible Foods and Beyond Meat have seen significant drops in value and sales, while Korean companies, including Nongshim, have scaled back vegan ventures due to declining demand and financial losses. High prices and lingering concerns over taste and quality continue to hinder market growth, with experts predicting that Korea’s vegan industry will face limitations due to its existing dietary culture and low consumer interest.

U.S. LMO potato import process gains momentum… Has the ‘non-tariff barrier’ fallen?
https://www.nongmin.com/article/20250324500930
Summary:  The Korean government recently approved the environmental risk assessment for U.S. LMO potatoes (SPS-Y9) after a seven-year delay, raising concerns that this decision was influenced by U.S. trade pressure, particularly ahead of key trade negotiations. Critics argue that the sudden approval may indicate Korea is dismantling its non-tariff barriers under pressure from the U.S., which has long criticized Korea's LMO import procedures as trade barriers. While officials insist the decision followed scientific protocols, some suspect that easing agricultural trade restrictions, including LMO imports and pet food regulations, is being used as a bargaining chip in broader trade negotiations.

Eggflation hits home as US looks to import from Korea
https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/biz/2025/03/602_394824.html
Summary:  Egg prices in Korea increased by over 10% in March due to higher domestic demand and concerns about rising prices linked to U.S. egg imports. The U.S. has targeted Korea as a key source for egg imports, with requests for around 100 million eggs per month, starting with shipments from farms in South Chungcheong and North Chungcheong Provinces. Despite these concerns, Korea's Ministry of Agriculture reassured consumers that domestic egg production is rising, and the impact on supply from exports is expected to be minimal.

Urgent agricultural policy issues, but the National Assembly is at a standstill.
https://www.nongmin.com/article/20250321500573
Summary:  The political situation, which is stretching on due to the impeachment crisis, is drawing the political sphere into a black hole.  In the National Assembly’s Agriculture, Food, Rural Affairs, Oceans and Fisheries Committee, legislative work and agricultural policy oversight have effectively been "shut down."  This is particularly painful, as our agriculture sector is facing domestic and international crises, such as livestock diseases and trade wars, making the stagnation of the committee even more concerning.

Questioning the reliability of the foot-and-mouth disease antibody formation rate survey
https://www.nongmin.com/article/20250321500579
Summary:  Concerns have been raised about the reliability of the Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) antibody formation rate survey, conducted four weeks after nationwide mandatory vaccinations, due to the possibility of farmer interference in the selection of test cattle. Experts highlight that farmers, wary of potential negative effects of vaccination on reproduction, may resist the monitoring process, while local authorities struggle to balance compliance enforcement with cooperation from farmers. To enhance the credibility of the survey, calls are growing for measures such as a “vaccination history system” to track which veterinarians administered the vaccines, ensuring greater accountability and reliability.

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza confirmed at Sejong layer farm…90,000 chickens to be culled
https://www.donga.com/news/Economy/article/all/20250322/131258744/1
Summary:  Highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza (AI) has been confirmed at a layer farm in Sejong City, marking the third case of the year in the city and the 41st nationwide. The farm, housing around 90,000 chickens, reported a sudden increase in chicken deaths, prompting authorities to initiate a response. Measures including entry controls, culling, and epidemiological investigations are underway to prevent further spread, following earlier outbreaks in December and earlier this month in Sejong.

NAQS to enhance controls over country of origin labeling on agricultural products traded online
https://www.yna.co.kr/view/AKR20250320137600030?section=industry/industrial-enterprise
Summary:  Korean National Agricultural Products Quality Management Service (NAQS) announced that it held a private-public council on March 20th to discuss measures to strengthen control management of country of origin labeling on agricultural products traded via online malls and delivery applications in Korea.  The council plans to enhance controls on origin labeling by establishing a consumer complaint reporting center to monitor indication requirements, let related online platforms take corrective measures voluntarily, and provide training on violation cases.