Population of agricultural households South Korea 2023, by sector

In South Korea in 2023, approximately 2.4 million people were working in the agricultural industry. The majority of these were farmers and families, with people in forestry and fishery numbering slightly over 290 thousand. There were just little less than one million farming households.

Shrinking number of farmers

The development of manufacturing and high-tech industries in Korea meant the number of people involved in agriculture, forestry, and fishing has been dropping steadily for years. The mainstay of the economy became automobiles, ships, semiconductors, petroleum products, and so on. People in agriculture accounted for approximately five percent of the total population. This rate saw a steady decrease and is expected to fall further. The aging of current farmers and the industry’s unpopularity among younger generations is also having a negative effect. Youths prefer better paying and less physical strenuous occupations in companies or government service, among others. Around half of all farmers are more than 65 years old; this is the typical retirement age in Korea.

Possibilities for growth of Korean agriculture

In recent years, an increased focus on healthy eating and the introduction of technology into agriculture have created the potential for further industry growth. Koreans today are showing greater concern with the food they consume, whether they be grains, vegetables, or meat products. Organic farming and so-called ‘wellbeing’ foods are popular, despite the higher price tags associated with such products, leading to a growing market for organic agriculture and food products.