1. BIOTECHNOLOGY ISSUES
 
Congressman Proposes a New Bill to Require Mandatory Labeling on GMO Feed [Korean, OSY]
http://www.hankyung.com/news/app/newsview.php?aid=2015101696331
Summary: Congressman Seung-Nam Kim submitted a proposal to the National Assembly on October 16 that asked for mandatory labeling on feed products, either manufactured in Korea or imported, that contain GMO ingredients.  Congressman Kim pointed out that the consumers have the right to know if the feed for cattle contains GMO ingredients as the consumers are concerned about the safety of GMO agricultural products.

2. ECONOMIC ISSUES
 
Number of Foreign National Residents Living in Korea Continues a Sharp growth ... to Reach 5 Million by 2030 [Korean, OSY]
http://blog.naver.com/p650410?Redirect=Log&logNo=220510215917
Summary: According to the Korean government census projection, total number of foreign national residents living in Korea will continue to grow to reach 5 million by 2030.  Which means that one every 10 people in Korea will be foreign national residents.
  
3. GRAIN & OILSEED ISSUES

Korean Food Manufacturers Continue to Launch "Super Grain" Products [Korean, OSY]
http://news.donga.com/3/all/20151001/73927024/1
Summary: Reflecting consumers high interest in healthy diet, Korean food manufacturers have launched a high number of new products incorporating super grains such as quinoa, oats, and lentil peas.  For example, CJ Cheiljedang launched in September 'Healthy Grain Flour Pancake Mixes' that are made of super grain ingredients.  Jungsikpum launched "healthy grain water" that can be added to make steamed rice.  This product targets those who hate the taste of healthy grain but wants to benefit the nutritional functionality of the super grains.

4. LIVESTOCK ISSUES
 
"Recommended Daily Allowance will be Set for Sausage & Ham", Korean Ministry of Food & Drug Safety [Korean, OSY]
http://news.donga.com/3/all/20151028/74446553/1
Summary: Korean Ministry of Food & Drug Safety (MFDS) announced on October 27 that it will produce a consumer guideline for safe daily consumption of processed meat and red meat.  This was a response to WHO report on October 26 that WHO newly classified processed meat products such as sausages, hams, and bacon to Grade 1 carcinogenic substance; and red meat to Grade 2 carcinogenic substance.  MFDS added that the recommended daily allowance will be developed based on detailed food safety evaluations on the products by a group of industry/academic/government experts.

"Sausage-Ham-Red Meat" Cause Cancer, WHO ... Consumers are Shocked [Korean, OSY]

http://en.seoul.co.kr/news/newsView.php?id=20151027500094
Summary: World Health Organization (WHO) announced on October 25 that processed meat products including sausage, ham, and bacon were newly classified under Grade 1 carcinogenic substance.  Grade 1 category currently includes top carcinogenic substance such as asbestos and tobacco.   The WHO added that red meat was newly classified under Grade 2A as a carcinogenic substance.  Herbicide is currently included in the 2A category.  The WHO explained that its research on over 800 academic research papers have led them to the conclusion.

Price of Local Beef Soars ... Beef Imports Expand [Korean, OSY]

http://www.hankyung.com/news/app/newsview.php?aid=2015101833631
Summary: Imports of beef meat into Korea amounted to 222,962 metric tons in 2015 through September according to the Korea Customs Office, which was 2.9 percent up from the same period of last year.  The reason for the increased beef meat imports is significant price increase of local beef due to reduced supply from local cattle farms.  Total number of beef cattle in Korea has declined to 2,653,000 in June 2015 (from 2,949,000 in June 2013) under the Korean government's culling program.  As a result, wholesale market price of local "hanwoo" beef marked 19,346 won per kilogram (grade 1) on October 15, 2015, up 31 percent from a year ago.

5. MARKETING ISSUES

Korean E-Mart’s ‘No Brand’ is low-cost, high-quality [English, KLS]
http://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/article/article.aspx?aid=3010941
Summary: No Brand was devised as part of E-Mart’s “Invention” project, an internal campaign to promote new ideas in product development, marketing and business strategy to pique the interest of consumers. With “No Brand,” E-Mart focused on the fact that the essence of consumer products is in quality and price, not brand names. As a result, No Brand products are much cheaper than national-brand products, with the biggest price gap recorded so far at 67 percent.

E Mart Promotion Announces New Season for Fresh California Pomegranates [Korean, OSY]
http://news.donga.com/3/all/20151027/74445862/1
Summary: E Mart, the leading hypermarket store chain in Korea, hosted a retail promotion of fresh California pomegranate on October 27.  The fruit, air-shipped from California, is offered at 4,980 won each in the store.

Agricultural Subsidies Lower Self-Sustainability of the Korean Agricultural Sector [Korean, OSY]
http://www.hankyung.com/news/app/newsview.php?aid=2015102203791
Summary: According to the Korea National Assembly's 'Agricultural Subsidy Program Report' released on October 22, total agricultural subsidies that Korean government spends in 2015 would amount to 6.54 trillion won (about $6 billion USD), significant increase from the previous year's amount, 6.22 trillion won.  The subsidy program accounts for a 45.2 percent of the budget allocated to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (MAFRA).  However, the subsidy program faces increased criticism in the market as the subsidy program has made little contribution to the growth of the farm sector income over the years.  Instead, marketers point out that the subsidy program has often led the sector to make uneconomic decisions and unbalanced productions.  For example, subsidy programs have resulted in over supply of farm machineries and agricultural chemicals.

Local Catch of Hairtail Fish (Cutlass Fish) Shrinks to Half During the Last Five Years ... UAE Hairtail Lands in Korea for the First Time [Korean, OSY]
http://www.hankyung.com/news/app/newsview.php?aid=2015101411661
Summary: Fresh hairtail fish (cutlass fish) imported from United Arab Emirates (UAE) was launched in E Mart stores on October 15.  According to E Mart, it was the first time in history that UAE hairtail was imported into Korea.  For better quality, the UAE hairtail was imported through airfreight cargo which took only three days from departure from UAE to arrival in E Mart store, added E Mart.  E Mart's importation of UAE hairtail reflects serious decline in local catch of hairtail.  Total local catch of hairtail in Korea amounted to 46,780 metric tons in 2014, down 45 percent from 2009.  Price of local hairtail runs around 30,285 won per kilogram whereas the UAE hairtail offered in E Mart store is 18,400 won per kilogram.