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.

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.

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 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.

Korea Agricultural Land: % of Land Area data was reported at 17.809 % in 2015. This records a decrease from the previous number of 17.935 % for 2014. Korea Agricultural Land: % of Land Area data is updated yearly, averaging 22.403 % from Dec 1961 (Median) to 2015, with 55 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 24.290 % in 1968 and a record low of 17.809 % in 2015. Korea Agricultural Land: % of Land Area data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Korea – Table KR.World Bank: Land Use, Protected Areas and National Wealth. Agricultural land refers to the share of land area that is arable, under permanent crops, and under permanent pastures. Arable land includes land defined by the FAO as land under temporary crops (double-cropped areas are counted once), temporary meadows for mowing or for pasture, land under market or kitchen gardens, and land temporarily fallow. Land abandoned as a result of shifting cultivation is excluded. Land under permanent crops is land cultivated with crops that occupy the land for long periods and need not be replanted after each harvest, such as cocoa, coffee, and rubber. This category includes land under flowering shrubs, fruit trees, nut trees, and vines, but excludes land under trees grown for wood or timber. Permanent pasture is land used for five or more years for forage, including natural and cultivated crops.; ; Food and Agriculture Organization, electronic files and web site.; Weighted average;

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.

In 2023, about ** billion U.S. dollars worth of consumer-oriented agricultural products were imported into South Korea. Leading imported consumer-oriented agricultural products were beef, food preparations, pork, alcoholic beverages, and cheese and curd.

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

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.

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.

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.

Graph and download economic data for Benchmarked Unit Labor Costs - Business Sector (Excluding Agriculture) for Korea (DISCONTINUED) (KORULCBXAAPNMEI) from 1971 to 2010 about unit labor cost, Korea, agriculture, sector, business, and rate.

Thailand Exports: South Korea: Agricultural Products data was reported at 1,679.316 THB mn in Jun 2018. This records a decrease from the previous number of 1,722.119 THB mn for May 2018. Thailand Exports: South Korea: Agricultural Products data is updated monthly, averaging 1,148.266 THB mn from Oct 1990 (Median) to Jun 2018, with 333 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 4,107.549 THB mn in Mar 2011 and a record low of 154.562 THB mn in Jun 1991. Thailand Exports: South Korea: Agricultural Products data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Ministry of Commerce. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Thailand – Table TH.JA002: Trade Statistics: By Country.

Korea Cereal Production data was reported at 5,828,800.000 Metric Ton in 2016. This records a decrease from the previous number of 5,976,224.000 Metric Ton for 2015. Korea Cereal Production data is updated yearly, averaging 7,444,135.000 Metric Ton from Dec 1961 (Median) to 2016, with 56 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 10,541,876.000 Metric Ton in 1978 and a record low of 5,604,281.000 Metric Ton in 2012. Korea Cereal Production 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: Agricultural Production and Consumption. Production data on cereals relate to crops harvested for dry grain only. Cereal crops harvested for hay or harvested green for food, feed, or silage and those used for grazing are excluded.; ; Food and Agriculture Organization, electronic files and web site.; Sum;

North Korea KP: Aquaculture Production data was reported at 554,100.000 Metric Ton in 2016. This records an increase from the previous number of 553,950.000 Metric Ton for 2015. North Korea KP: Aquaculture Production data is updated yearly, averaging 508,095.000 Metric Ton from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2016, with 57 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1,200,000.000 Metric Ton in 1989 and a record low of 5,236.000 Metric Ton in 1960. North Korea KP: Aquaculture Production data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s North Korea – Table KP.World Bank: Agricultural Production and Consumption. Aquaculture is understood to mean the farming of aquatic organisms including fish, molluscs, crustaceans and aquatic plants. Aquaculture production specifically refers to output from aquaculture activities, which are designated for final harvest for consumption.; ; Food and Agriculture Organization.; Sum;

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 .

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.

Comprehensive dataset of 51 Agricultural productions in South Korea as of August, 2025. Includes verified contact information (email, phone), geocoded addresses, customer ratings, reviews, business categories, and operational details. Perfect for market research, lead generation, competitive analysis, and business intelligence. Download a complimentary sample to evaluate data quality and completeness.