In South Korea in 2023, approximately *********** people were working in the agricultural industry. The majority of these were farmers and families, with people in forestry and fishery numbering slightly over ************. There were just little less than *********** farming households.

Shrinking number of farmers

The development of manufacturing and high-tech industries in Korea meant the number of people involved in agriculture, forestry, and fishing has been dropping steadily for years. The mainstay of the economy became automobiles, ships, semiconductors, petroleum products, and so on. People in agriculture accounted for approximately ************ of the total population. This rate saw a steady decrease and is expected to fall further. The aging of current farmers and the industry’s unpopularity among younger generations is also having a negative effect. Youths prefer better paying and less physical strenuous occupations in companies or government service, among others. Around half of all farmers are more than 65 years old; this is the typical retirement age in Korea.

Possibilities for growth of Korean agriculture

In recent years, an increased focus on healthy eating and the introduction of technology into agriculture have created the potential for further industry growth. Koreans today are showing greater concern with the food they consume, whether they be grains, vegetables, or meat products. Organic farming and so-called ‘wellbeing’ foods are popular, despite the higher price tags associated with such products, leading to a growing market for organic agriculture and food products.

GDP from Agriculture in South Korea increased to 8488.40 KRW Billion in the first quarter of 2025 from 8228.20 KRW Billion in the fourth quarter of 2024. This dataset provides the latest reported value for - South Korea Gdp From Agriculture - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news.

South Korea: Value added in the agricultural sector as percent of GDP: The latest value from 2023 is 1.6 percent, a decline from 1.64 percent in 2022. In comparison, the world average is 9.80 percent, based on data from 176 countries. Historically, the average for South Korea from 1960 to 2023 is 12.87 percent. The minimum value, 1.6 percent, was reached in 2023 while the maximum of 46.53 percent was recorded in 1964.

In 2024, the gross domestic product (GDP) from the agriculture, forestry, and fishing sectors in South Korea amounted to approximately ** trillion South Korean won. The agricultural sector's contribution to GDP has gradually declined from about ** percent in the 1950s to roughly *** percent recently. Agriculture in South Korea The population involved in agriculture and fishing has been shrinking steadily for years as the South Korean economy evolved into a manufacturing and technology industry that produces automobiles, semiconductors, and petroleum products, among other things. As of 2023, there were just around *** million farming households in South Korea. Forestry and fishery families added another combined 141,000 to this figure. Around half of all farmers were more than 65 years old. Growth of smart farming Given these challenges, the agricultural sector is increasingly turning to innovative solutions, such as "smart" farming. This approach differs from traditional agriculture as it leverages advanced technologies for efficient remote management, automation, and large-scale agricultural production. The market size of smart farming is projected to reach approximately *** million U.S. dollars by 2025, representing a sharp increase from just five years earlier.

In 2023, South Korea's agricultural industry had approximately **** thousand establishments. Due to the change in survey methodology, the number of such establishments increased particularly in 2020. Prior to that, the number of agricultural establishments had been steadily rising since 2014, when there were only about *** thousand.

South Korea: Employment in agriculture, % of total employment: The latest value from 2022 is 5.43 percent, an increase from 5.35 percent in 2021. In comparison, the world average is 23.00 percent, based on data from 179 countries. Historically, the average for South Korea from 1991 to 2022 is 8.44 percent. The minimum value, 4.92 percent, was reached in 2017 while the maximum of 16.37 percent was recorded in 1991.

South Korea agriculture equipment market size reached USD 3,459.1 Million in 2024. Looking forward, IMARC Group expects the market to reach USD 4,815.3 Million by 2033, exhibiting a growth rate (CAGR) of 3.74% during 2025-2033. The growing demand for advanced machinery, contributing to the overall modernization, is primarily driving the regional market.

IMARC Group provides an analysis of the key trends in each segment of the market, along with forecasts at the country level for 2025-2033. Our report has categorized the market based on equipment type, application, and sales channel.

South Korea Agriculture Robots Market is predicted to reach $290.32 million by 2030 with a CAGR of 18.2%% from 2023 to 2030

Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (annual % growth) in South Korea was reported at --2.4126 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. South Korea - Agriculture, value added (annual % growth) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

South Korea: Agriculture value added, billion USD: The latest value from 2023 is 27.33 billion U.S. dollars, a decline from 27.48 billion U.S. dollars in 2022. In comparison, the world average is 23.49 billion U.S. dollars, based on data from 166 countries. Historically, the average for South Korea from 1960 to 2023 is 16.8 billion U.S. dollars. The minimum value, 0.94 billion U.S. dollars, was reached in 1961 while the maximum of 33.74 billion U.S. dollars was recorded in 2021.

Korea GDP: % of GDP: Gross Value Added: Agriculture data was reported at 1.961 % in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 1.928 % for 2016. Korea GDP: % of GDP: Gross Value Added: Agriculture data is updated yearly, averaging 8.853 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 46.262 % in 1964 and a record low of 1.928 % in 2016. Korea GDP: % of GDP: Gross Value Added: Agriculture data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s South Korea – Table KR.World Bank.WDI: Gross Domestic Product: Share of GDP. Agriculture corresponds to ISIC divisions 1-5 and includes forestry, hunting, and fishing, as well as cultivation of crops and livestock production. Value added is the net output of a sector after adding up all outputs and subtracting intermediate inputs. It is calculated without making deductions for depreciation of fabricated assets or depletion and degradation of natural resources. The origin of value added is determined by the International Standard Industrial Classification (ISIC), revision 3 or 4.; ; World Bank national accounts data, and OECD National Accounts data files.; Weighted average; Note: Data for OECD countries are based on ISIC, revision 4.

Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (% of GDP) in South Korea was reported at 1.5956 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. South Korea - Agriculture, value added (% of GDP) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

Forecast: Output of Agriculture, Forestry and Seafood in South Korea 2024 - 2028 Discover more data with ReportLinker!

In 2022, greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture in South Korea amounted to about **** million tons of CO2 equivalent. Agricultural greenhouse gas emissions accounted for around *** percent of the total GHG emissions in the country.

Korea GDP: Growth: Gross Value Added: Agriculture data was reported at 0.314 % in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of -2.768 % for 2016. Korea GDP: Growth: Gross Value Added: Agriculture data is updated yearly, averaging 3.093 % from Dec 1961 (Median) to 2017, with 57 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 16.098 % in 1964 and a record low of -16.643 % in 1980. Korea GDP: Growth: Gross Value Added: Agriculture data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s South Korea – Table KR.World Bank.WDI: Gross Domestic Product: Annual Growth Rate. Annual growth rate for agricultural value added based on constant local currency. Aggregates are based on constant 2010 U.S. dollars. Agriculture corresponds to ISIC divisions 1-5 and includes forestry, hunting, and fishing, as well as cultivation of crops and livestock production. Value added is the net output of a sector after adding up all outputs and subtracting intermediate inputs. It is calculated without making deductions for depreciation of fabricated assets or depletion and degradation of natural resources. The origin of value added is determined by the International Standard Industrial Classification (ISIC), revision 3 or 4.; ; World Bank national accounts data, and OECD National Accounts data files.; Weighted average; Note: Data for OECD countries are based on ISIC, revision 4.

Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (constant LCU) in South Korea was reported at 31946200000000 LCU in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. South Korea - Agriculture, value added (constant LCU) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

Korea BE: Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing: Agriculture data was reported at 2,684.000 Unit in 2016. This records an increase from the previous number of 2,415.000 Unit for 2015. Korea BE: Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing: Agriculture data is updated yearly, averaging 1,720.000 Unit from Dec 2006 (Median) to 2016, with 11 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 2,684.000 Unit in 2016 and a record low of 1,562.000 Unit in 2008. Korea BE: Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing: Agriculture data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Statistics Korea. The data is categorized under Global Database’s South Korea – Table KR.O014: Number of Establishment: KSIC 9th Revision.

South Korea GDP: Gross Value Added at Basic Prices: Agriculture, Forestry, and Fishing data was reported at 35,488,700.000 KRW mn in 2022. This records a decrease from the previous number of 38,601,500.000 KRW mn for 2021. South Korea GDP: Gross Value Added at Basic Prices: Agriculture, Forestry, and Fishing data is updated yearly, averaging 16,548,100.000 KRW mn from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2022, with 63 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 38,601,500.000 KRW mn in 2021 and a record low of 91,400.000 KRW mn in 1960. South Korea GDP: Gross Value Added at Basic Prices: Agriculture, Forestry, and Fishing data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s South Korea – Table KR.World Bank.WDI: Gross Domestic Product: Nominal. Agriculture, forestry, and fishing corresponds to ISIC divisions 1-3 and includes forestry, hunting, and fishing, as well as cultivation of crops and livestock production. Value added is the net output of a sector after adding up all outputs and subtracting intermediate inputs. It is calculated without making deductions for depreciation of fabricated assets or depletion and degradation of natural resources. The origin of value added is determined by the International Standard Industrial Classification (ISIC), revision 4. Data are in current local currency.;World Bank national accounts data, and OECD National Accounts data files.;;Note: Data for OECD countries are based on ISIC, revision 4.

South Korea: Agriculture value added per worker, constant USD: The latest value from is U.S. dollars, unavailable from U.S. dollars in . In comparison, the world average is 0.00 U.S. dollars, based on data from countries. Historically, the average for South Korea from to is U.S. dollars. The minimum value, U.S. dollars, was reached in while the maximum of U.S. dollars was recorded in .

Korea Number of Workers: Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing: Agriculture data was reported at 27,130.000 Person in 2016. This records an increase from the previous number of 26,082.000 Person for 2015. Korea Number of Workers: Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing: Agriculture data is updated yearly, averaging 21,412.000 Person from Dec 2006 (Median) to 2016, with 11 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 27,130.000 Person in 2016 and a record low of 20,294.000 Person in 2008. Korea Number of Workers: Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing: Agriculture data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Statistics Korea. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Korea – Table KR.G066: No of Workers: KSIC 9th Revision (Annual).