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🇰🇷 South Korea /Economy & Trade

South Korea enacts Korean Cattle Industry Act for systematic growth

From Hankyoreh · () Korean

Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified New plan
  • South Korea's cattle industry has a legal foundation for systematic growth and support with the enforcement of the 'Korean Cattle Industry Act' and its subordinate statutes starting August 21.
  • The act, which faced a presidential veto after passing in 2024, was re-promoted and enacted in July 2025, aiming to address challenges like market opening, declining self-sufficiency, and weakening production bases.
  • While farmers welcome the law as a crucial turning point, they urge the government to swiftly establish mid- to long-term development plans and stable supply measures, ensuring a sustainable industry for young farmers.

South Korea's cattle industry is set to enter a new era with the official implementation of the Korean Cattle Industry Act and its related decrees on August 21. This legislation, a decade in the making, aims to provide a structured framework for the growth and support of the nation's hanwoo (Korean beef) sector.

The implementation of the Korean Cattle Industry Act and its subordinate statutes starting August 21 will establish a legal basis for the systematic growth and support of the Korean cattle industry.

— HankyorehReporting on the new law's impact.

The law's enactment follows a challenging path, including a presidential veto after its passage in the National Assembly in 2024, before being successfully re-promoted and enacted in July 2025. It was conceived as a response to mounting pressures such as market liberalization, a decline in domestic production rates, and a weakening production infrastructure.

Farmers evaluate this implementation as an important turning point that will open a new future for the Korean cattle industry.

— HankyorehDescribing the farmers' reaction to the new law.

Korean cattle farmers, who have long advocated for this legislation, view its implementation as a pivotal moment for the industry's future. They face significant hurdles, including rising feed costs, increased competition from imports, and the growing demands of carbon neutrality. The law is expected to offer a stable foundation for development amidst these challenges.

In a situation where difficulties are increasing due to rising feed costs, import market expansion, and carbon neutrality, the enforcement of the law is expected to become a strong foundation for the stable development of the industry.

— HankyorehExplaining the challenges faced by the industry and the expected benefits of the law.

However, farmers emphasize that the law alone will not solve all issues. They are calling on the government to promptly develop comprehensive mid- to long-term strategies and implement proactive measures to stabilize both management and supply. Ensuring a sustainable industry that supports the next generation of farmers is a key concern.

The government must promptly establish a mid- to long-term development plan and actively pursue management and supply stabilization measures.

— HankyorehQuoting farmers' demands to the government.
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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