[National Audit File] Only a 37% increase over 20 years... Rice prices are not 'soaring' but 'recovering'

Published 2025년 9월 30일

Tridge summary

[Hong Lan, Korea Farmers and Fishermen Newspaper Reporter] Recently, there has been criticism in the media that the term "soaring" used to describe rice prices is excessive. Rice prices have only increased by 37% over the past 20 years, and with rice still costing less than 300 won per kilogram, the media's use of the term "soaring" is misleading public opinion. Lee Byeong-jin, a member of the National Assembly's Committee on Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries, and Food (from the Democratic Party of Korea, representing Pyeongtaek City, Gyeonggi Province), pointed out that the argument that rice prices have "soared" compared to 20 years ago is excessive. According to data submitted to Lee Byeong-jin's office titled "Trends in Rice Prices Over the Past 20 Years," as of 2025, 80 kg.

Original content

Recent media reports have been criticized for using the term "soaring" to describe rice prices, which some argue is excessive. Rice prices have only increased by 37% over the past 20 years, and with rice still costing less than 300 won per bowl, the media's use of "soaring" is misleading public opinion. Member of the National Assembly's Committee on Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries, and Food, Lee Byeong-jin (Democratic Party, Pyeongtaek-si, Gyeonggi Province), pointed out that the claim that rice prices have "soared" compared to 20 years ago is excessive. According to data submitted by Lee Byeong-jin's office titled "Trends in Rice Prices Over the Past 20 Years," the average monthly price for 80 kg of rice in 2025 is 198,000 won, which is an increase of 54,000 won from 144,000 won in 2006. During the same period, the price of jjjangmyeon (a type of Korean noodle) more than doubled from 3,264 won to 7,500 won, and the Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose from 76.08 in 2006 to 116.45 in ...

Source: Agrinet