SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA / RankWire.AI / – South Korea is experiencing significant hikes in fresh produce prices due to record-breaking temperatures disrupting agriculture and lowering vegetable supplies. Data from Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corp. indicated that on Aug. 7, spinach reached 1,978 won per 100 grams, representing a 152.3% increase compared to a month prior. Meanwhile, ten cucumbers sold for 8,313 won, up 54.8%, with blue lettuce increasing by 41.7% and zucchini rising 46.6% to 1,504 won.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs explained that prolonged periods of high temperatures have diminished the availability of heat-sensitive crops. Particularly vulnerable are spinach, cucumbers, and zucchini, which suffer when temperatures stay elevated for long durations. This summer has also seen record-breaking weather nationwide, with Yangsan reaching 42.5 degrees Celsius on Aug. 2, marking South Korea’s highest temperature since nationwide data collection began in 1904.
Livestock farms have also faced substantial setbacks due to heat. As of Aug. 7, South Korea recorded 901,602 animal deaths, with chickens and ducks comprising about 95% of that figure. These losses are roughly 55% of those reported during the same period last year. Despite this, retail prices for broiler chickens have remained relatively steady at 5,925 won per kilogram on Aug. 7, staying below 6,000 won for the first time since February.
Intense heat impacts aquaculture and farm produce
Warming coastal waters have also caused major losses among fish farms. By Aug. 7, 864,497 fish had died, further straining the domestic seafood industry. At auction, flounder prices averaged 22,300 won per kilogram between July 27 and Aug. 1, a 2.29% increase from the previous week and a 13.2% rise from the same period last year. Meanwhile, 17 coastal areas experienced heat warnings.
In response, authorities have implemented measures to stabilize supplies and prices across various food sectors. These include increased imports of broiler chickens and expanded retail discounts for fish. Support for farms has also been provided, including shade structures, misting systems, and ventilation devices to combat extreme heat. The government bolstered its agricultural disaster response system starting Aug. 7 and introduced a special management period for heat and drought as weather-related damages spread across farming and aquaculture regions.
Vegetable prices surge after a calmer July inflation
The recent escalation in food prices follows a period of slower consumer inflation reported in July. The national consumer price index reached 119.77, with the 2020 benchmark set at 100. Prices fell by 0.2% from June but increased by 2.8% compared to July 2025. Although inflation stood at 3.2% in June, the sharp increases in vegetables reported on Aug. 7 occurred after the period covered by the July inflation figures.
Fresh vegetables continue to be among the most visibly affected categories during the heatwave. Spinach experienced the largest monthly jump among widely tracked items, with cucumbers, lettuce, and zucchini also showing significant price increases. Livestock and aquaculture farms endured hundreds of thousands of heat-related losses during this period. Meanwhile, retail chicken prices remained below recent peaks, thanks to ongoing import, discount, and farm support initiatives aimed at ensuring food availability during South Korea’s extreme summer conditions.