Rice cultivation in South Korea has hit a record low this year, with the area dropping to 697,714 hectares, a reduction of 12,980 hectares from the previous year. This decline is largely due to policies designed to balance rice supply and demand, such as the direct payment system for strategic crops. Similarly, chili pepper cultivation has also decreased to 26,436 hectares, down by 696 hectares from the previous year, primarily because of rising production costs.