SEOUL – South Korea's rice output has decreased by 1.6 percent in 2023, primarily due to a reduction in the cultivation area. This decline has been reported in the latest data released by Statistics Korea.
According to Yonhap News Agency, The data shows that rice production in South Korea amounted to 3.70 million tons in 2023, down from 3.76 million tons in the previous year. The decrease in production is attributed to a 2.6 percent reduction in the size of rice paddies, which reached a record low of 708,012 hectares this year. Despite the government's efforts to balance rice supply and demand, including subsidies for farmers cultivating strategic crops like wheat, bean, and rice flour, the drop in the cultivation area significantly impacted the overall output.
However, the output per 100 square meters witnessed a 1.0 percent increase in 2023, reaching 523 kilograms, largely due to favorable weather conditions during the summer. While rice remains a staple food in South Korea, its consumption has steadily declined in recent decades due to changes in diet and eating habits. Per capita rice consumption hit an all-time low of 56.7 kg in 2022, compared with a peak of 136.4 kg in 1970.