SEOUL, September 30 (AJP) - South Korean farmers are feeling the intensifying pressures of climate change, from searing heat to destructive rains. Few know this better than Kim In-jung, the newly appointed head of the Korea Rural Community Corporation, who says the task before him is nothing less than safeguarding the nation’s food supply.
“We are all experiencing the effects of climate change,” Kim said in an interview on Sept. 22. “This summer, the national average temperature was 27.7 degrees Celsius, the highest on record. Some areas faced extreme rainfall, while others endured drought. Our urgent task is to ensure farmers can work safely and efficiently.”
The country has endured both ends of the climate spectrum in recent months.
From Aug. 30 to Sept. 22, a severe drought led to the first-ever national disaster declaration in Gangneung, a coastal city on the east. Just weeks earlier, torrential rains inundated parts of the central Chungcheong region, causing extensive damage. Such swings, Kim warned, are likely to become more common.
Since taking office in May, he has focused on preparing for extreme weather — inspecting reservoirs, reinforcing safety systems and expanding water storage. Reservoir upgrades and the wider use of groundwater dams, which are less vulnerable to weather shifts, are central to his plans. Five such dams now supply 120,000 tons of water daily, and the corporation hopes to expand that network to 39 sites.
But South Korea’s challenges go beyond water. Food self-sufficiency remains stubbornly low: while overall agricultural self-sufficiency stood at 49 percent in 2023, the country produces little of its own wheat and corn.
Kim argues that building a stronger production base for non-rice crops, along with better irrigation and drainage systems, is essential for food sovereignty.
The aging farm population adds urgency. More than half of South Korea’s farm operators are now over 70. To attract younger farmers, the corporation is developing programs to provide land, greenhouse rentals and housing, easing barriers to entry for a new generation.
Kim said safety is another pressing concern. A majority of the country’s reservoirs are rated in poor condition, yet only about 50 are repaired each year. Ahead of this summer’s heavy rains, the corporation preemptively lowered reservoir levels to create space for 1.2 billion tons of water and cleared thousands of kilometers of drainage channels. A joint emergency response system operated more than 3,400 reservoirs and 1,000 pumping stations.
Kim, a nearly 30-year veteran of agricultural and rural development policy, also wants to modernize the corporation itself — from management culture to workplace safety. Initiatives now include mandatory two-person teams, smart monitoring devices and worker-led risk assessments. “We must create a workplace free of industrial accidents,” he said.
Longer term, the corporation is turning to rural revitalization. Under the Rural Restructuring Act, enacted last year, it is backing projects to reimagine rural areas with investments in renewable energy and community development.
For Kim, the mission is clear: adapting to climate change, strengthening food security and keeping farmers safe.
“We cannot stop the weather from changing,” he said. “But we can prepare for it, and we can protect those who put food on our tables.”
* This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP.
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