Cows, which sweat relatively little, are vulnerable to heat, and due to global warming, they are increasingly suffering from heat stress during the summer months. (Image courtesy of Getty Image Bank/CCL)
SEOUL, July 29 (Korea Bizwire) — Record-breaking heat driven by climate change is disrupting South Korea’s agricultural and aquacultural sectors, with fresh milk production, farmed fish survival, and summer cabbage crops all under threat, raising fears of supply instability and inflation.
According to the Korea Dairy Committee, raw milk output has declined by 5–10% amid prolonged high temperatures. Holstein cows, which make up the majority of South Korea’s dairy herd, are highly susceptible to heat stress, with intake and milk yield dropping sharply above 27°C. Temperatures surpassing 32°C can slash milk output by as much as 20%.
Seoul Dairy Cooperative, the nation’s top milk supplier, reported daily milk collection dropping by around 100 tons from the usual 1,900 tons. As a result, whipping cream shortages are already affecting small bakeries and cafés, many of which have resorted to rationing or switching to alternatives.
Industry officials warn that continued heat could eventually impact milk supply across the board, echoing a 2021 disruption when products were pulled from convenience store shelves.
Fisherman retrieving a dead rockfish. (Yonhap)
Aquaculture operations are also reeling. Following a brief monsoon, a rapid rise in sea temperatures prompted the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries to issue a high-temperature alert two weeks earlier than last year.
On July 24, the first mass die-off of farmed flatfish in Jeju was reported, with officials investigating high water temperatures as the likely cause. Emergency fish releases have begun to preempt further damage, particularly for species like rockfish and flounder that are vulnerable to thermal stress.
The Korea Institute of Ocean Science & Technology warned that 14 of 37 monitored coastal zones — including parts of the West, South Seas, and around Jeju — have reached dangerous temperatures. Last year, heatwaves caused ₩143 billion ($110 million) in damage to aquaculture farms, the highest since records began.
Meanwhile, summer cabbage — a key ingredient in kimchi — is showing poor growth. Cultivated only in high-altitude regions like Pyeongchang and Jeongseon, cabbage is highly sensitive to extreme weather.
Following heavy rains and searing heat, disease outbreaks such as soft rot have been reported, raising concerns of another “golden cabbage” crisis, where prices soar due to shortages. Last year, retail cabbage prices spiked to ₩10,000 per head amid a late-season heatwave.
The Ministry of Agriculture has secured 36,000 tons of reserve cabbage — more than double last year’s stockpile — and readied 3 million seedling backups to stabilize supply if the heat damages crops further. Though wholesale prices remain 18% below last year for now, officials are closely monitoring conditions as late July and August harvests approach.
The confluence of climatic stressors on dairy, aquaculture, and crop sectors underscores the growing vulnerability of South Korea’s food systems in a warming world — and the urgent need for adaptive strategies across the supply chain.
Ashley Song (ashley@koreabizwire.com)
