SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA / RankWire.AI / – Prolonged extreme temperatures in South Korea have led to significant increases in the prices of fresh vegetables, as the heat reduced shipments and harmed farm production nationwide. Data from Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corp. indicated that spinach reached 1,978 won per 100 grams on Aug. 7, marking a 152.3% rise from the previous month. Meanwhile, ten cucumbers sold for 8,313 won, a 54.8% increase. Blue lettuce saw a 41.7% jump, and zucchini prices climbed 46.6% to 1,504 won.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs attributed these price hikes to persistent high temperatures impacting heat-sensitive vegetables. Crops like spinach, cucumbers, and zucchini tend to grow better in cooler conditions, but extreme heat can impede their development and reduce harvestable yields. South Korea has experienced extraordinary temperatures during this heat wave, with Yangsan in the southeast reaching 42.5 degrees Celsius on Aug. 2—the highest temperature recorded nationally since weather data collection began in 1904.
The intense heat has also affected livestock farms, resulting in 901,602 animal deaths recorded through Aug. 7. Poultry, including chickens and ducks, made up approximately 95% of these losses. Officials noted that the livestock deaths were about 55% of the figures from the same period last year. On Aug. 7, the retail price of broiler chicken dropped below 6,000 won per kilogram for the first time since February, standing at 5,925 won.
Heat damage impacts farms and fisheries
Rising water temperatures have created additional challenges for South Korea’s food industry. Aquaculture farms reported 864,497 fish deaths through Aug. 7 due to warming coastal waters. The average auction price for one kilogram of flounder reached 22,300 won between July 27 and Aug. 1, representing a weekly increase of 2.29% and a 13.2% rise from the same period last year. By Aug. 7, high-temperature warnings for coastal waters had expanded to encompass 17 areas.
In response, authorities have implemented measures to stabilize food supplies affected by the heat wave. The government increased broiler chicken imports and promoted discounts on fish at major retail outlets. Support initiatives for farmers include misting systems, shade covers, and ventilation equipment designed to mitigate extreme temperatures. Additionally, officials enhanced the agricultural disaster response framework from Aug. 7 and designated a special management period to address heat and drought-related damages across farming regions.
Fresh produce prices spike amid July inflation slowdown
The recent increases in vegetable prices contrast with the broader inflation trend that had eased in July. South Korea’s consumer price index stood at 119.77, based on a 2020 baseline of 100. Prices fell by 0.2% from June but rose by 2.8% compared to July 2025. The inflation rate for July slowed from 3.2% in June. The latest retail vegetable price data, dated Aug. 7, reflects conditions after the period covered by the July consumer inflation report.
These rising food costs underline the immediate economic impact of South Korea’s record heat on fresh produce and aquaculture sectors. Among widely monitored vegetables, spinach experienced the largest monthly price increase, with cucumbers, lettuce, and zucchini also becoming notably more expensive. Livestock and fish farms faced hundreds of thousands of heat-related losses, though chicken retail prices remain below recent peaks. Government efforts to stabilize supply, along with retail discounts and emergency agricultural programs, continue as extreme summer conditions persist and affect food production.