Seoul: South Korea's rice output is projected to decrease by 0.3 percent in 2025 due to a reduction in cultivation area, according to data from the statistical office released on Thursday.

According to Namibia Press Agency, the Ministry of Data and Statistics estimated that a total of 3,574,000 tons of rice, a staple food for South Koreans, will be produced in the country in 2025. This figure represents a 0.3 percent decrease from the 3,585,000 tons produced in the previous year, continuing a downward trend for the fourth year in a row.

The decrease in rice production is attributed to the ongoing reduction in rice paddies. The area of rice paddies across South Korea has declined by 2.9 percent over the year, reaching 678,000 hectares in 2025, the lowest since records began in 1965.

Additionally, rice consumption in South Korea has been declining in recent decades as eating habits have shifted. Despite the decrease in production, this year's estimated rice output is expected to exceed demand by approximately 165,000 tons, which includes rice consumption, processing, and the government's rice reserves.