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🇰🇷 South Korea /Disasters & Emergencies

Flooded carrot fields in Jeju leave farmers unable to claim disaster insurance

From Hankyoreh · () Korean

Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Ongoing story
  • Heavy rains have flooded carrot fields in Jeju, South Korea, turning them into lakes.
  • Many farmers could not enroll in crop disaster insurance due to delayed germination caused by drought, leaving them without compensation.
  • Farmers are urging for increased accessibility to disaster insurance given the increasing frequency of extreme weather events.

Farmers in Jeju, South Korea, are facing significant crop damage and financial hardship as heavy rains have transformed their carrot fields into flooded lakes.

I planted on the 20th because it was supposed to rain from the 23rd to the 25th, but it didn't. Then I planted again on the 12th because it was supposed to rain from August 15th to 17th, but this time it rained too much.

— Han Tae-seopDescribing the unpredictable weather patterns that led to the flooding of his carrot fields.

Many farmers, like Han Tae-seop in Gujwa-eup, had to replant multiple times due to unpredictable weather. After a drought delayed germination, intense rainfall inundated their fields. Han expressed concern about the prolonged period needed for the soil to dry, potentially forcing a shift from carrots to other crops, impacting their livelihood.

It will take at least ten days for the water to drain and the soil to dry, so I can plant the third time. But then the sowing will be too late, and I might have to plant radishes instead.

— Han Tae-seopExpressing concern about the delayed planting season and the potential need to switch crops due to prolonged flooding.

The situation is exacerbated by the inability of many farmers to secure crop disaster insurance. The insurance, which covers losses from natural disasters, requires a minimum of 80% germination rate before planting. However, the preceding drought delayed this crucial stage, and subsequent rains occurred before farmers could meet the insurance enrollment criteria. This leaves them to bear the full cost of the crop damage.

Farmers can only enroll in insurance if more than 80% of the seeds sprout. If germination is delayed due to drought and then heavy rain falls, farmers have to bear the damage themselves.

— Han Tae-seopExplaining the insurance enrollment requirement and how it leaves farmers vulnerable to weather-related crop losses.

While some fields are covered by insurance, many are not, leading to significant financial strain. Farmers' groups are advocating for greater accessibility to disaster insurance, especially as extreme weather events become more common. They argue that insurance should be available from the point of sowing, when production costs begin to accrue. The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs stated that while some farmers may exploit the system, they are working to support those affected by recent disasters through recovery support programs.

Since production costs start from sowing, insurance should be available from that point.

— Chae Ho-jinArguing for increased accessibility to crop disaster insurance, suggesting coverage should begin at the start of the planting season.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Hankyoreh in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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