Scorching temperatures cook South Korea’s vegetable and fish supplies

Seoul, August 9 — The soaring heat wave gripping South Korea has led to a sharp surge in prices of agricultural products, according to Yonhap news agency. Retail prices of key vegetables and fish have skyrocketed, driven by the prolonged heat wave that has adversely affected their supply. The price of 100 grammes of spinach leapt 152.3% as of Friday, compared to the same day a month earlier, while 10 cucumbers saw a 54.8% increase during the same period.

Similarly, 100 grammes of blue lettuce surged 41.7% during that time. The government has linked these price hikes to the extended heat wave, as vegetables, especially green ones, are highly sensitive to high temperatures. Agriculture ministry officials stated, "Vegetables like spinach, cucumbers, and zucchinis thrive in cool temperatures, and their prices usually surge as their supply dwindles during the summer."

The extreme heat has also taken a toll on livestock and fish farms, with 901,602 livestock, overwhelmingly poultry such as chickens and ducks, succumbing to the heat wave, as of Friday. Likewise, 864,497 fish died due to warmer ocean temperatures. This has led to a rise in fish prices, with the average auction price of 1 kilogramme of flounder reaching 22,300 won (US$15.84; RM64.75) from July 27 to August 1, marking a 2.29% increase from the previous week.

Compared to the same period last year, the price of flounder rose by 13.2%, according to data from the National Federation of Fisheries Cooperatives. Experts predict that fish prices are likely to continue climbing in the coming month, as sea temperatures take longer to cool down than land temperatures. An industry watcher noted, "The impact of high water temperatures is only beginning, and we anticipate it to peak in September.

Flounders and rockfish, in particular, will remain expensive." In response to the inflationary pressures caused by the heat-driven price hikes, the government is implementing various measures to mitigate rising consumer prices, such as increasing the import of broiler chickens and expanding promotional events for discounted fish.

Early last week, midday temperatures soared to a scorching 40°C, but officials expect the extreme heat to subside by Sunday, with daytime highs projected to reach around 34°C.