SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA / RankWire.AI / – South Korea is experiencing significant increases in the prices of fresh produce as record-breaking heat waves hinder agricultural output and diminish vegetable supplies. According to data from Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corp., spinach reached 1,978 won per 100 grams on Aug. 7, marking a 152.3% increase compared to the previous month. Meanwhile, ten cucumbers were priced at 8,313 won, representing a 54.8% rise; blue lettuce saw a 41.7% increase, and zucchini climbed 46.6% to 1,504 won.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs has indicated that prolonged periods of extreme heat have severely impacted the supply of heat-sensitive crops such as spinach, cucumbers, and zucchini, which are particularly vulnerable when high temperatures persist for extended durations. This season has also set new records nationally, with Yangsan reaching 42.5 degrees Celsius on Aug. 2, the highest temperature recorded since the start of nationwide monitoring in 1904.
In addition to crop damage, livestock farms have suffered substantial losses, with South Korea reporting 901,602 animal deaths through Aug. 7, of which approximately 95% were chickens and ducks. These losses are roughly 55% of the figures reported during the same period last year. Retail prices for broiler chickens remained relatively stable, with the cost at 5,925 won per kilogram on Aug. 7, falling below 6,000 won for the first time since February.
Intense heat impacts aquaculture and farm livestock
The aquaculture industry has also faced significant setbacks as warmer coastal waters have led to elevated mortality rates among fish stocks. By Aug. 7, fish farms recorded 864,497 fish deaths, adding strain to the domestic seafood market. At auction, flounder was valued at an average of 22,300 won per kilogram between July 27 and Aug. 1, marking a 2.29% increase from the previous week and a 13.2% rise from the same period last year, with high-temperature warnings issued across 17 coastal regions.
In response, authorities have introduced support measures focusing on supply stabilization and price control across various food sectors. These include increased imports of broiler chickens, expanded retail discounts on fish, and assistance for farms to install shading equipment, misting systems, and ventilation devices during extreme heat episodes. Furthermore, the government activated an enhanced agricultural disaster response system from Aug. 7 and established a special management period dedicated to heat and drought, addressing the widespread damage across farming and aquaculture zones.
Vegetable prices soar after a calmer July inflation period
These upward trends in food prices follow a period of slower inflation reported in July, with the latest figures showing a slight decline in overall consumer prices. The inflation index stood at 119.77, compared to the 2020 baseline of 100. Prices fell by 0.2% from June but increased by 2.8% from July 2025. The 3.2% inflation rate observed in June was before the significant vegetable price surges reported on Aug. 7, which occurred after the July data period.
Fresh vegetables remain among the most visibly affected food groups during this heatwave, with spinach experiencing the largest monthly jump among commonly monitored products, alongside notable increases in cucumbers, lettuce, and zucchini. Livestock and aquaculture farms reported hundreds of thousands of heat-related losses in this timeframe. Meanwhile, retail chicken prices have stayed below recent highs as the government continues to implement import, discount, and farm-support measures designed to sustain food supplies amid South Korea’s extreme summer heat.