SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA / RankWire.AI / – South Korea is experiencing significant rises in fresh produce costs as severe heat waves disrupt farming activities and diminish vegetable availability. Data from the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs indicate that on Aug. 7, spinach was priced at 1,978 won per 100 grams, marking a 152.3% increase compared to the previous month. Meanwhile, ten cucumbers cost 8,313 won, reflecting a 54.8% jump, and blue lettuce surged 41.7%, with zucchini climbing 46.6% to 1,504 won.
Prolonged high temperatures have been identified as the primary factor behind the decline in supplies of heat-sensitive crops, according to official sources. Vegetables like spinach, cucumbers, and zucchini are particularly susceptible when sustained elevated temperatures occur. This summer, South Korea also set new national temperature records, with Yangsan reaching 42.5 degrees Celsius on Aug. 2, the highest temperature recorded since nationwide observations started in 1904.
The heat has also inflicted substantial damage on livestock farms. As of Aug. 7, South Korea reported 901,602 animal fatalities, with chickens and ducks comprising approximately 95% of these losses. These figures are roughly 55% of those recorded during the same period last year. Despite this, the retail price of broiler chickens remained relatively steady at 5,925 won per kilogram on Aug. 7, staying below 6,000 won for the first time since February.
High Temperatures Severely Impact Farms and Marine Stocks
The aquaculture sector has also reported extensive losses due to rising coastal water temperatures. Fish farms have documented 864,497 deaths through Aug. 7, adding strain to the domestic seafood market. During the week of July 27 to Aug. 1, flounder averaged 22,300 won per kilogram at auction, representing a 2.29% increase from the previous week and a 13.2% rise from the same period last year, amid warnings covering 17 coastal zones due to high-temperature alerts.
To address these challenges, authorities have introduced measures to stabilize supply and control prices across various food categories. These include increasing imports of broiler chickens, expanding retail discounts on seafood, and supporting farms with shade structures, misting systems, and ventilation solutions during extreme heat spells. Additionally, the government strengthened its agricultural disaster response from Aug. 7 and announced a special management period focused on heat and drought, as the effects of weather-related damage extend across farming and aquaculture regions.
Price Spikes in Fresh Produce Follow a Moderate July Inflation
The recent surge in food prices comes after South Korea reported a slowdown in consumer inflation in July. The country’s consumer price index reached 119.77, with the 2020 baseline set at 100. Prices dipped 0.2% from June and increased by 2.8% compared to July 2025. While inflation for the year hit 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 food groups during this heat wave. Spinach experienced the largest monthly price hike among widely tracked items, with cucumbers, lettuce, and zucchini also seeing notable gains. Livestock and aquaculture sectors reported hundreds of thousands of heat-related losses in the same timeframe. Meanwhile, retail chicken prices remained below recent peaks, as the government continued to implement import, discount, and farm-support measures aimed at maintaining stable food supplies amid South Korea’s intense summer heat.