South Korea sweltered under intense heat this summer. The “Land of Morning
Calm” felt the heat even at dawn, with “tropical nights” keeping temperatures
above 25°C, even after days peaking around 35°C. Seoul broke its record for
tropical nights, with 39 consecutive nights—the longest in 117 years.
On September 5, the meteorological agency announced that the
country experienced its highest average summer temperature since records began
50 years ago, with an average of 25.6°C—nearly two degrees above the historical
norm.
“Heatflation”: Inflation caused by heat
This intense heat has also affected South Koreans’ wallets. The unusual
climate disrupted agricultural production, causing shortages. In Seoul’s
markets, prices have soared. The term “heatflation” was coined to describe inflation
driven by heat. Prices for staple foods like cabbage, radishes, and green
onions have doubled since the spring.
Price hikes were also seen earlier this year, notably in apples, with
production falling drastically from 560,000 tons in 2022 to 390,000 tons in
2023 due to extreme heat. In March, the cost of apples nearly doubled compared
to the previous year, with prices reaching $4.5 per kilogram.
More frequent and intense extreme weather events
“The decline in production due to climate change could affect more
crops than just apples,” explains Ahn Ok-seon, a researcher at the
National Institute of Plant Science studying climate change’s impact on Korean
agriculture.
Ahn highlights that extreme weather events, like cold spells, heatwaves,
droughts, typhoons, and frost waves, are becoming more frequent and severe. “By the end of the century, the number of heatwave days could increase
from 15 to 70 annually—nine times more than today,” she warns.
Apple, peach orchards could disappear
Beyond the disruptions caused by frost or drought, South Korea’s ecosystem
is transitioning from a temperate to a tropical climate. “Our studies show
an annual average temperature increase of 0.7°C, delaying flowering for some
plants while speeding up growth for others,” says Ahn.
South Korea, known for its apple and peach orchards, may see these fruits
nearly disappear from the peninsula within a few decades. “By 2070,
apples, pears, and peaches will likely be confined to high mountain regions in
the north, while persimmons and citrus fruits like mandarins will expand across
the country,” Ahn explains.
Over 50% of the country could become a humid subtropical zone
Farmers must adapt to this shifting climate. “Currently, 6.5% of the
country is classified as a humid subtropical zone, but by 2050, this could
exceed half the country, requiring a shift in crops and management of heat and
humidity,” says Park Jung-kwan, another researcher at the National
Institute of Plant Science.
To support farmers, South Korea’s Rural Development Agency is implementing
adaptation programs, focusing on cost-reduction techniques like efficient water
use. “We aim to develop heat-resistant apple varieties and have introduced
52 tropical species since 2020, advising farmers on the best crops for their
regions in the coming years,” Park adds.
Revisiting protectionist agricultural policies
These challenges are compounded by South Korea’s protectionist agricultural
policies, which limit imports of domestically grown fruits. This contributed to
the spike in apple prices this year due to local production issues. The
government is considering adjustments to these policies.
On August 29, South Korea’s Constitutional Court ruled that the
country’s climate goals “violate the Constitution” by failing to
sufficiently protect its population, following a lawsuit filed by children. In
2021, South Korea pledged to reduce carbon emissions by 40% from 2018 levels by
2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. To meet this goal, the country
would have needed to reduce emissions by 5.4% annually starting in 2023, which
hasn’t happened. After the ruling, the Ministry of Environment promised to
implement the necessary measures. A similar case, also filed by young people,
recently succeeded in Montana, United States, and another is underway in European courts.
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