SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA / RankWire.AI / – In South Korea, the ongoing extreme heatwave in August has led to a sharp rise in the prices of fresh vegetables. This spike is a result of reduced shipments and widespread damage to agricultural output across the country. According to data from Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corp., spinach was priced at 1,978 won per 100 grams on Aug. 7, representing a 152.3% increase compared to the previous month. Meanwhile, ten cucumbers sold for 8,313 won, up 54.8%. The price of blue lettuce increased by 41.7%, and a zucchini climbed 46.6% to 1,504 won.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs attributed these price hikes to sustained high temperatures impacting vegetables sensitive to heat. Crops like spinach, cucumbers, and zucchini flourish better in cooler environments, but extreme heat can hinder their growth and diminish marketable yields. South Korea has experienced unprecedented temperatures during this heatwave, with Yangsan in the southeast reaching 42.5 degrees Celsius on Aug. 2—the highest temperature ever recorded nationally since weather records began in 1904.
The intense heat has also affected livestock farms, with 901,602 animal deaths reported as of Aug. 7. Poultry, including chickens and ducks, accounted for approximately 95% of these fatalities. Authorities noted that these losses are about 55% of the death toll during the same period last year. The retail price of broiler chicken was 5,925 won per kilogram on Aug. 7, falling below 6,000 won for the first time since February.
Heat Damage Extends to Farms and Fisheries
Warmer coastal waters have added further pressure to South Korea’s food industry. Through Aug. 7, aquaculture farms reported 864,497 fish deaths due to rising water temperatures. The average auction price for one kilogram of flounder reached 22,300 won between July 27 and Aug. 1, marking a 2.29% weekly increase and a 13.2% jump from the same period last year. By Aug. 7, warnings for high water temperatures had expanded to 17 coastal areas.
In response, the government has implemented measures to stabilize food supplies impacted by the heat wave. These include increasing imports of broiler chickens and promoting discounts on fish at major retail outlets. Support initiatives for agriculture involve providing misting systems, shade coverings, and ventilation units for farms affected by extreme heat. Additionally, authorities enhanced the agricultural disaster response framework from Aug. 7 and designated a special management period to address the ongoing heat and drought-related damages across farming regions.
Vegetable Price Surge Contrasts July’s Inflation Trends
The recent escalation in vegetable prices occurs despite a broader inflation trend that had eased in July. South Korea’s consumer price index was 119.77, using 2020 as a base level of 100. Overall consumer prices decreased by 0.2% from June but increased by 2.8% compared to July 2025. The inflation rate in July slowed from 3.2% in June. The current retail vegetable prices, as of Aug. 7, reflect conditions after the period covered by the July inflation report.
The surge in food prices underscores the immediate economic impact of South Korea’s record-breaking heat on fresh produce and aquaculture. Among the widely tracked vegetables, spinach experienced the largest monthly increase, with cucumbers, lettuce, and zucchini also becoming notably more expensive. Livestock and fish farms have reported hundreds of thousands of heat-related losses, although chicken retail prices have remained below recent peaks. Government measures to support supply and retail discounts are operating alongside emergency agricultural programs as the intense summer heat continues to impact food production.