Rice Consumption Cut in Half in 30 Years

It seems that rice is losing its status as a staple food of the Korean diet.

According to Statistics Korea on Wednesday, the average consumption of rice amounted to 130 kg per person in 1985, but the number fell to 63 kg in 2015.

The main reason is believed to be the recent popularity of low-carb diets.

The fading appetite for rice is also having an impact on the agriculture sector. A good harvest last year pushed up rice production to a six-year high of 4.3 million tons. Coupled with a sharp decrease in demand, that led to soaring rice inventory, pushing rice prices below production costs.

To stabilize the supply and demand of rice, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs is working to promote rice exports and boost the rice processing industry.