Output drops to 3.54 million tons as cultivation area hits historic low.

By Kim Ji-seop

This year’s rice production was recorded at 3,539,000 tons, marking the fourth consecutive annual decline. Despite an increase in yield per unit area, the total production decreased as the rice cultivation area hit a new historic low.

According to the ’2025 Rice Production Survey Results’ released on the 13th by the Ministry of Data and Statistics, this year’s rice production fell by 45,000 tons (1.3%) from last year’s 3,585,000 tons. Rice production has been declining for four years, with decreases of 3.0% in 2022, 1.6% in 2023, and 3.2% in 2024.

Long-Term Decline in Cultivation Area…New Record Low Every Year

This year’s rice cultivation area was 678,000 hectares, a 2.9% decrease from last year’s 698,000 hectares. This is the smallest area since statistics began in 1975.

The rice cultivation area has shrunk by 33.3% over two decades, from 1,016,000 hectares in 2003 to 678,000 hectares in 2025. Except for a temporary increase of 0.8% in 2021, the area has been declining almost every year. Since 2010, it has continued to set new record lows annually.

Government policies aimed at preventing oversupply due to steadily decreasing rice consumption have led to reduced cultivation areas. The government is encouraging farmers to grow alternative crops like wheat and soybeans through initiatives such as the Strategic Crop Direct Payment System and the Paddy Field Non-Rice Crop Cultivation Support Project.

Meanwhile, yield per unit area increased. Production per 10a (1,000 square meters) rose by 1.7% to 522 kg, up from 514 kg last year. The Ministry of Data and Statistics explained, “Favorable weather conditions throughout the growth period reduced damage from diseases and pests, leading to higher yield per 10a.”

The rate of damage from diseases and pests decreased by 1.9 percentage points, from 11.9% last year to 10.0% this year.

By region, production was highest in South Chungcheong Province (694,000 tons), followed by South Jeolla Province (687,000 tons) and North Jeolla Province (543,000 tons).

◇Focus on Additional Measures Amid Rising Rice Prices

Song Mi-ryung, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, stated during a national audit last month, “We will isolate 100,000 tons of the estimated 165,000-ton surplus from the 2025 harvest.” The government has been implementing a policy to purchase and isolate a certain amount of rice from the market to prevent oversupply.

Last year, the government isolated 260,000 tons, far exceeding the estimated surplus of 56,000 tons. Minister Song acknowledged during the audit that this contributed to raising rice prices by nearly 30% this year. Although the isolation scale was reduced to 100,000 tons this year, concerns remain that continued production declines could sustain upward pressure on rice prices.

During a recent inspection of rice harvesting sites, Minister Song stated, “We will reassess supply and demand before February next year and implement additional measures as needed. We will significantly expand the budget for the Strategic Crop Direct Payment System and actively support consumption activities linked to strategic crop production.”

Published Date: November 13, 2025