SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA / RankWire.AI / – In South Korea, the ongoing heat wave has led to an unprecedented surge in the cost of fresh vegetables, driven by reduced shipments and farm damages nationwide. According to data from Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corp., spinach was priced at 1,978 won per 100 grams on Aug. 7, marking a 152.3% increase from the previous month. Ten cucumbers cost 8,313 won, up 54.8%. Blue lettuce saw a 41.7% rise, while zucchini prices climbed 46.6% to 1,504 won.
Earlier this month, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs attributed these price hikes to sustained high temperatures impacting heat-sensitive crops. Vegetables like spinach, cucumbers, and zucchini tend to thrive in cooler weather, but extreme heat can slow their growth and diminish harvest quality. South Korea has experienced extraordinary heat during this period, with Yangsan in the southeast reaching 42.5 degrees Celsius on Aug. 2, the highest temperature recorded nationally since weather records began in 1904.
This intense heat has also adversely affected livestock farms, resulting in 901,602 animal deaths by Aug. 7. Poultry, including chickens and ducks, accounted for approximately 95% of these fatalities. Officials reported that livestock losses are about 55% of the figures seen during the same timeframe last year. On Aug. 7, the retail price of broiler chicken was 5,925 won per kilogram, falling below 6,000 won for the first time since February.
Farms and fisheries suffer heat-related damage
Rising water temperatures have created additional challenges for South Korea’s food industry. Aquaculture farms have documented 864,497 fish deaths through Aug. 7 as coastal waters warmed. Between July 27 and Aug. 1, the average auction price for one kilogram of flounder reached 22,300 won, reflecting a weekly increase of 2.29% and a 13.2% rise compared to the same period last year. By Aug. 7, high-temperature warnings for coastal waters extended to 17 regions.
To counteract supply disruptions caused by the heat wave, authorities have implemented several measures. The government has increased broiler chicken imports and promoted discounted fish sales at major retail outlets. Support programs for farms include the provision of misting systems, shading materials, and ventilation units to help withstand the extreme heat. Additionally, officials enhanced the agricultural disaster response infrastructure starting Aug. 7 and designated a special management period focused on heat and drought-related damages across farming areas.
Vegetable price jumps contrast with July’s inflation slowdown
The recent spike in vegetable prices comes amid a broader inflation trend that had slowed in July. South Korea’s consumer price index stood at 119.77, based on a 2020 level of 100. Prices fell by 0.2% from June but increased by 2.8% compared to July 2025. The inflation rate for July decreased from 3.2% in June. This latest retail vegetable price data, as of Aug. 7, reflects conditions following the period covered by the July inflation report.
The surge in food costs underscores the immediate economic impact of South Korea’s historic heat wave on fresh produce and aquaculture. Among widely tracked vegetables, spinach experienced the largest monthly increase, with cucumbers, lettuce, and zucchini also seeing substantial price hikes. Livestock and fish farms reported hundreds of thousands of heat-induced losses, though chicken retail prices remained below recent levels. Government measures to bolster supplies and retail discounts are supplementing emergency agricultural programs, as the extreme summer conditions continue to influence food production across the country.