No. of farming households rebounds in 2025 as more people move to farms

In 2025, the number of farming households in Korea surged to 1.27 million, driven by an increasing number of individuals moving to agricultural lands, according to the Ministry of Data and Statistics. However, the average cultivated area per household declined to its lowest point in 65 years, falling to 0.87 hectares, a decrease of 0.2 hectares from 2020. This decline can be attributed to the aging population, as noted by a statistics official.

The total population of farming, forestry, and fishing households amounted to 2.57 million, representing a rise of 191,000 compared to five years prior. These households made up 5 percent of the country's total population. The demographic shift was evident, with people aged 65 and older accounting for 51 percent of the farming and fishing population, a significant increase of 9 percentage points from five years earlier. This trend highlights the growing concern over the aging rural communities in Korea.

While the number of farming households reached a new high, the financial aspect of the sector showed a mixed picture. Only 12.4 percent of farming households managed to generate more than 30 million won ($22,000) in agricultural sales, indicating a challenging economic landscape for a significant portion of the farming community.