Politics · South Korea · 3 hrs ago
Nonghyup markets handled more than 1 trillion won in imported produce
Nonghyup wholesale markets handled 1.0337 trillion won of imported produce from 2023 through June 2026, according to figures provided to lawmaker Yoon Jun-byeong.
The markets are run by Nonghyup and local agricultural and livestock cooperatives in South Korea.
They were established to help sell domestic produce and protect farm incomes, but imported produce made up 5.6% to 5.8% of their total transaction value.
The volume handled rose each year from 2023 to 2025, and the markets dealt in 61,518 tonnes in the first half of 2026.
Bananas and oranges accounted for the largest amounts by value, while imported shiitake mushrooms more than doubled in value between 2023 and 2025.
Yoon said the markets’ imports threaten domestic growers and urged strict limits on imported produce and a revised performance system; no decision on those proposals was reported.
Nonghyup markets handled 427,179 tonnes of imported agricultural products worth 1.0337 trillion won from 2023 through June 2026.
The figures were provided by Nonghyup Federation to Democratic Party lawmaker Yoon Jun-byeong.
The annual volume rose from 113,242 tonnes in 2023 to 126,865 tonnes in 2025.
Imported produce accounted for 5.6% to 5.8% of total transaction value.
Yoon criticized Nonghyup for handling large volumes of imports and called for tighter limits and changes to how markets are evaluated.
- Who
- Nonghyup’s economic holdings and agricultural and livestock cooperative markets handled the imported produce; lawmaker Yoon Jun-byeong raised concerns about the figures.
- What
- They handled 427,179 tonnes of imported agricultural products worth 1.0337 trillion won.
- When
- From 2023 through June 2026.
- Where
- Nonghyup markets in South Korea.
- Why
- The markets were established to develop sales channels for domestic produce and protect farm incomes; Yoon said the import trade threatened domestic growers.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Nonghyup markets handled 113,242 tonnes of imported agricultural products.
The volume handled rose to 125,554 tonnes.
The volume reached 126,865 tonnes.
Nonghyup markets handled 61,518 tonnes.
- Total volume
- 427,179 tonnes
- Total value
- 1.0337 trillion won
- Period covered
- 2023 through June 2026
- Largest market by cumulative value
- Daejeon market, 110.9 billion won
- Top product by value
- Bananas, 336.8 billion won
1 source
What people are saying
Rather than opening sales channels for produce grown by farmers, Nonghyup is distributing large volumes of imported agricultural products and focusing on easy commission revenue.
The indiscriminate listing and distribution of major agricultural products that threaten the survival of domestic growers is an act that shakes the foundations of our agriculture.
Strict limits should be set on the types and volumes of imported agricultural products handled by Nonghyup markets, and the system for evaluating their performance should be completely overhauled to match the markets’ original purpose.